Promises

Chapter 3

I got back home at 6:00 and changed into my purple and black birthday dress. I went to work at 9:00. I opened the door and the word "SURPRISE!!" filled my ears. Everyone was there: all the guys, Lisa and Angelo, my best friends, and Kelly.

"Happy birthday, Lorel!" Lindsey says while pulling me across the room to Michael.

"Happy birthday babe." Michael kisses me on the forehead.

"Thank you." I say in return, blushing.

Without any music on Lindsey and Leo started dancing. They were trying to combine the running man with the cat daddy which by the way was a complete FAIL!

"Hey, Leo, how about I turn on the music and you try the new dance?" I ask.

"Oh yes." He laughed and kept dancing.

I turned on the music and Leo starts trying to teach all of us the dance. After a while Selena left to a photo shoot, Lindsey and Chris are slow dancing to What Makes You Beautiful, Lee and Margret are having a conversation and they both look very intrigued. Michael went to the bathroom and Angelo pulls me to the side.

"Your welcome." He said. I looked at him confused.

"For?" I asked.

"For telling Michael to come here and date you." He smiles then frowns realizing what he just said.

"Wait...what?" I said stepping back.

"Yeah. Why, did you actually think he came here to meet you out of pure coinincedance?" Angelo then put his hand over his mouth but I knew he only said that because he tried to cover up what he said before. It didn't work.

Tears start rolling down my cheek. This is pretty much the same as being cheated on. Either way, he didn't really like me. Just lies, it's always just lies.

Michael walks out of the bathroom. "Hey babe, what's wrong?" He comes closer to give me a hug but I back up and shake my head no.

"I can't believe this was all fake. I was just starting to believe you were different." I turned around and walked out of the studio into the cold winter snow. I didn't know what to do so I just found a bench at the park down the street to sit at for a while.

A person sat next to me and puts a jacket over my shivering shoulder. I look up and it's Nathan.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I thought I should check up on you."

"Why isn't Michael checking on me?" I asked with a bit of anger.

"He's upset and affraid you'll yell at him. He didn't attend for this to happen."

"What to happen? Hurting me or getting caught in the act?"

"For him to actually fancy you. I don't blame him, you're beautiful."

"Thank you," I look up at Nathan. "For checking up on me. You're very kind." I give him a warm hug and he gives one back.

"Will you be coming back to the party with me?" He asked standing up. I shake my head.

"No, I'm going to head home." I stand up.

"Alright. Stay safe and warm. I'll see you soon Lorel." he smiled and I nod then we walk our separate ways.

•the next day•

I walked to work. By the way it's 3 more days until Lindsey's 21st birthday.

"Hi Kelly, I see your feeling better." I smile.

"Hey darling, I'm fine. How about you? How are you doing? Is he really worth the pain?" Kelly asked.

"I actually think he might be. I thought I could trust him with my heart but I don't even know now... Do you have any advice? I barely know him." I asked miserably.

"Well first, read this note and then I have to tell you something." She handed me a note.

The note:

Sorry! I didn't mean for this to get so far, I didn't know he'd really like you. You are like my best friend and my younger sister I always want the best for you and I don't want anything to hurt you. But when I realized what I did I thought it was going to be awesome for you but it ended up hurting you. I'm so sorry, I can't imagine how you feel knowing you had Cole do something similar to you. You need to talk to him. I gave him your number so just text me when you want him to call you.

P.S. I found out who Jerry is. Very clever.

Sorry, Angelo

Without hesitation I took my phone out and texted Angelo telling him not to tell Michael to call but to meet me tonight at the studio.

"I'll stay tonight to close up." I offered.

"OK." Kelly smiles.

"So what did you have to tell me?"

"Michael has come here every hour to see if you were here and I guess he gave up. I don't know if he is the one but he is pretty close." Kelly said. I looked down.

"Sounds kinda creepy, don't ya think." I said playing with a loose thread on my shirt.

"Lorel." Kelly said with a chuckle. I smiled at her and walked to my blank canvas.

I sat down and I start painting what I felt. I painted an angel protecting a golden heart in the clouds. Once I finished everyone was gone and I left the painting on the stand to dry. Then there was a knock on the studio door.

"I know you probably hate me right now, but I'm so sorry." Michael said, walking inside and sitting next to me. This should be good.