Let's Forget Everything (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 22

I woke up suddenly. I was finally having a peaceful sleep after getting over myself and putting Michael's shirt on, when I felt someone's presence.

I instantly jumped as my mind assumed the worst. I was still half asleep, my dream still vivid in my mind. I was about to scream until I saw a blob of red hair leaning into me.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Michael said, sounding worried.

I breathed out slowly, not aware I had been holding my breath.

He was so close to me, I could smell the mint toothpaste on his breath.

"It's okay, I don't have my contacts in so I couldn't see your face at first. I don't know I thought you were.." I trailed off, knowing full well that my initial thought of who it was wasn't rational thinking.

"You thought it was him?" Michael asked, his eyes big with concern.

"Oh baby no," he said slowly, pulling me into him.

I know I probably give into Michael a lot faster than I should, but I don't care. It would be bullshit if I pushed Michael away and told him to get out because I was mad at him. It's not what I want.

It's not what I need.

I slung my arms around his neck and held him tight, putting my hands in his hair. We stayed this way for a while, his hands on the small of my back.

"Did you get in using the key I gave you?" I asked, climbing out of his lap and looking at the clock to see that it was 2:27 pm.

I gave Michael a key to the house before we even got together, in case I wasn't home and he needed somewhere to get away from his parents.

"Yeah, I called your mom at work and she said you must still be asleep because you hadn't answered any of her calls either."

Suddenly I felt self conscious. Michael was freshly showered and shaved. He was wearing black stud earrings and a leather jacket. He is so handsome, I could never get enough.

He continued to hold me and for some reason I felt compelled to tell him everything.

"I have bad dreams about him," I whispered.

I could feel his body tense after I said that.

"I'm so sorry Jessie. I'm so dumb for letting you leave. I didn't even ask if you were okay," he said quietly.

I didn't say anything, instead I let go of his neck and grabbed his waist, pulling him closer.

"When you told me what happened....What he did to you, what he almost did to you....I just, I felt like my heart was being ripped out. I felt like I failed you. I was supposed to protect you.....I don't want you to feel the way I feel, like everything's your fault, like you're being suffocated by your own mind. I thought I had to be alone because I didn't want to blame you for the anger I felt, I couldn't let myself take it out on you. But after you left, I felt worse. I'm so sorry for everything. For leaving you, for what Bradley did to you, for being a shitty boyfriend, everything." He rushed every word out, his eyes bigger than I had ever seen them.

"Did he hurt you? Please tell me I need to know." He looked so sad, like he was scared to know but scared not to know.

I just stared at him for a minute, hoping I wouldn't cry. I looked down at my wrist, where I had stacked bracelets to hide the bruising.

I slowly slid the bracelets off my hand, and held my arm out in front of Michael so that the bruise was exposed to him for the first time.

He took my arm in his hand, and turned it around to see the bruise that wrapped around my wrist like a tattoo.