Blue Jeans (Michael Clifford)

04

Michael and I had gotten off the subway and we were walking for the rest if the trip. “Exactly how far do you live?” I asked. It was almost pitch black outside, and I was getting a little agitated with him. “About 5 minutes.” He said, reassuring me. “Thank god!” I shouted. “From the next block and then we turn left and 2 more blocks, and we are there!” He finished. I sighed, and continued walking. “I thought you wanted to spend time with me. You know, get to know me better?” He looked at the ground. “Yes I do, but if that requires me to walk the whole city then I don’t wanna! I’m wearing these stupid old Toms, and you expect me to be comfortable?” I yelled.

He wasn’t even scared of me. When I yelled at Luke, he’d atleast flinch a little, but I guess he just wasn’t with it. “Why aren’t you flinching, or anything?” I calmed my voice down. “I’m used to getting yelled at by people.” He said in a monotone voice. Of course he was, I mean he probably did this just to annoy me. We could’ve simply stayed at my house.

“So how long have you and Luke been friends?” Michael asked. “Sixteen years and counting. I mean literally! We have the same birthday and our moms are best friends. “Wow, that’s a pretty long time to deal with someone like him.” He chuckled. “Yeah, well you’re no walk in the park either.” I said nudging his shoulder.

We passed an apartment building where loads of boys were just sitting about talking. Hoodlums, they had to be. I could tell this was the bad part of town, but I liked it, until one of them spoke up. “Hey Michael, who’s the chick?” The brunette said. “She’s no one.” He quickly grabbed unto my hand, and held it with such a tight grip that I felt my blood circulation being cut off. “Hey I am someone, and I have a name!” I shouted at both Michael and the group.  “Shut-up.” Michael whispered in my ear.

“No I’m not going to shut up! Who do you think you are.” I pulled my hand out of his grip. “Michael you better calm your girl down, she seems a bit mad.” Another boy joined in. He had blue eyes and blonde hair stuck out of his hoodie. “I’m not his girl.” I balled my hands into fist and stood in front of them. Michael followed behind me, and connected our hands again, dragging me away.

“Okay are you stupid or stupid?” He scoffed. “Neither of the above! I won’t stand there and let them talk to me that way!” I swung our hands up and down. “This isn’t the type of neighborhood where you want to do that.” He sing-songed. “I’m sorry.” I finally said. “It’s okay just don’t pull that stuff again.”

We were right in front of his house. It was a nice looking building with a lobby and elevator. It only had three floors and Michaels was the second floor, apartment 348. He pulled out his keys, and put it into the door knob hole. He swung the door open, and threw his bag to the floor, and flung himself onto the couch.

“Project remember?” I said, still standing by the door. “Oh yeah, I forgot you were still here.” He stood up, and closed the door behind us. “I don’t bite.” He said, pushing my body further into the apartment. “Yeah, but it’s just that, well I just met you today, and for all I know you could be some serial killer!” I looked down to the floor so I wouldn’t see him laughing at me. But he didn’t laugh. “Would you just relax, my mom will be here in any sec-.”

 Before he could finish his sentence, the door opened again. In emerged a woman that had to be no other than his mom. “Hi Mom.” He waved to her, and took a seat back onto the couch. I took notice to his mom, and greeted her. “Oh hello! I’m sorry! Was I interrupting something?” She began to sound nervous. “No, no! I’m Carrie, and Michael and I have a project together.”

“Which we need to start, so let’s start it Michael.” I stared back at Michael, who seemed completely lost. He finally stood up again, and walked me down the hallway to his room. His room was covered in band posters that weren’t messily placed; they were straight and were free of creases. They were glossy when the light shun against them.

“Are we going to start the project or are you just here to stare at my room?” He brought me back from my thoughts. “Oh yeah it’s just so pretty.” I admitted. I wouldn’t mind ditching the penguin theme for something more- well- normal.

“Um, you can get started! The computers right there. I’ll go get some snacks for us.” Not even waiting for a reply he walked out, and slammed the door behind me. I took a seat at the desk, and opened up his laptop. Our project was about the first American colonies, and I wasn’t the best at this kind of stuff, so maybe Michael could help.

I opened up another tab and started to play some Lana. I started tapping my fingers to the beat of National Anthem and before I knew it I was bursting into song, and held my eyes shut tight. I grabbed the pen from the counter, acting as if it were a microphone, and accidentally hit the laptop off the desk, which knocked down a stack of books and papers.

I dropped the pen and raced to pick up the laptop, which was luckily fine. I organized the papers neatly unto the desk and began to place the books back on the desk, but I noticed that one of them wasn’t a book. It was a faded brown leather journal, being held together with tape and staples. Blue stars drawn on with a pen were scattered in the front cover with the initials G.C. in the bottom right corner. My curiosity got the best of me, and I began to read the letters inside.

It was an entry about a girl, I’m guessing. He talked about how much he loved her. He talked about her most predominant features like her green eyes and her brown hair. He wrote about the way her mouth moved when she talked and so much more. I skipped all the way to the most recent entry. It was today, and he talked about how he was going to a new school, and he hoped to make new friends, and how without her by his side he knew things would be tough.

I smiled to myself. Michael is literally the sweetest. I don’t know of any boys that even have a diary, or would just leave it in an open spot for all eyes. He was- different. Just then I heard a voice behind me say “What are you doing?” I turned around to see Michael standing in front of me. He looked agitated, like he was about to blow. I did the first thing that came to my mind and shut the book closed.

“Nothing!” I replied. He grabbed the journal from the table. “Why were you reading this?” He was becoming angrier. I sighed and finally said, “Okay so I was just casually jamming out to Lana and then I knocked all your stuff of the desk, including your computer, but it’s still fine!  Then I was picking all the stuff up and I saw that journal sitting there all lonely and well I kind of read it?” I said as fast as humanly possible. He crossed his arms. “Don’t touch my stuff.” He growled at me. “Fine whatever!” I yelled. I stood up from the chair, and began to walk out.

I should’ve never read that stupid thing in the first place. Now I’m outside in the dark in his stupid neighborhood that’s nowhere near my home. I walked around in the darkness and saw a bright sign with neon lights that read “open”. I walked inside the small shop, and pulled out my phone to call Luke. The young cashier called me saying that they closed in 15 minutes. I nodded and Luke finally answered. “Luke can you do me a teensy favour?” I asked in a small voice. “What do you need now Carrie?” I could practically hear him smirk through the phone. “Bring your stupid car over here and pick me up from Michaels place please?” I laughed.  “What? I thought you were coming back with him.” Luke sounded confused. “Long story short he got pissed and I got mad and I left.” I brushed it off as if nothing. “Fine, just text me the address.” He groaned, and hung up. I asked the cashier for the address of the shop and he gave it to me. I texted it to Luke, and began to wait.