I've decided I'm going to post a chapter every Wednesday and Sunday. This gives me a chance to get ahead a few chapters with this story and start work on the sequel to Caraphernelia.
If you think that's a bad idea for any reason, i'd like to hear c:
enjoy xo
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Awoken by a crazed knocking, I trudged to my apartment door. I don't think I would ever be a morning person - even if I woke up to Zac Efron or Dylan O'Brien every morning. God, whatever girl lucky enough to do that better not take that sight for granted.
Muttering to myself, I flung the door open. A fist stopped just in front of my face and I had to go cross eyed to focus on it. Behind the fist, Michael’s mouth was hanging open nearly as wide as the scream mask.
“You did not just nearly hit me in the face.” I tried to huff and be annoyed but I knew he could tell I was nearly laughing.
“Shouldn’t open doors so fast.” He looked overly amused, which infuriated me.
“Shouldn’t be an idiot!” I stepped to the side and he grinned at me as he passed me. His face was just so gorgeous. After I closed the door, I turned to find Michael’s eyes checking me out. I raised my eyebrow at him, hand on my hip. “Done checking me out?”
His eyes lingered on my hair before he replied, “Lovely bed hair.” He snorted as I grimaced.
My bed hair could not be tamed. It was like a lion having fallen through multiple trees and hit every branch on the way down.
“Nothing you haven’t seen before, Clifford.” I gestured him to go into the living room and asked him to wait a minute. I needed to freshen up. I hated waking up and not washing my face or brushing my teeth. It instantly left me feeling dirty.
Spitting out the water I used to rinse my face, I left to go back to Michael. I could hear him whispering to himself and stopped by the door, watching him pace across the length of my small living room. Due to his legs being so long, it only took him a few steps till he had reached the opposite end.
“I’m sorry I said… No. She knows I’m sorry. Thank you for the comics? Well yeah I’ll thank her but what else do I say?” He stopped and placed his hands on his face. “You’re so stupid Michael.”
“You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of crazy…” I was smiling at him, his muttering to himself was cute.
“How much did you hear?” His cheeks had burst with a reddish tint and I giggled.
“Only you calling yourself stupid,” I watched him visibly relax. He seemed to contemplate what to say for a second then approached me by a few steps. “Which is totally true.”
“Thank you for the comics.”
“Thank you for the nails.” I grinned, examining my still perfect green nails. His face scrunched up and his hand instinctively ran through his hair. The sight of him with green hair was something I was never going to forget.
“Can we start again?” This time, it was my face that scrunched up. I didn’t want to start again and just have to deal with being ‘just a fuck’ again. It wasn’t fair on me. “Properly this time. As friends. Can we start our friendship again?”
He was staring at me intently but I wasn’t focusing on his face. Being friends meant him not being able to put his hands on me again. It meant not being able to kiss him again and the idea of not being able to do that made my chest constrict. But I didn’t want to be with him emotionally, only physically.
“Natalie?”
“Leave, I have a date.” River had text me around the same time Michael did last night. He wanted another date and, as I didn’t have work, I happily agreed. It would give me something to do rather than spend time annoying Michael.
His face fell as he took in my words. “Okay. See you later?” I nodded and waved as he turned to leave.
I quickly ate my slice of toast and got ready, a scowl on my face the whole time.
The problem was, I didn’t want to be just friends with Michael because I’d miss the sex. Yet, I didn’t want to end up being just another fuck to him. It was confusing me. I couldn’t just agree on being friends when that might mean just staying friends.
What he said still hurt me and I had no idea what to do.
-&-
“How does a picnic sound, Princess?” River was grinning at me, holding up a picnic basket that made him look like a dad. I laughed at him.
“As long as there are strawberries then a picnic sounds perfect.” He opened his passenger door for me and quickly ran round to the driver’s seat.
The ride was short and, for the most part, awkward as fuck. He told me about his day working at that rock climbing place and how some girl made a total fool of herself. I laughed but it wasn’t even that funny. I was happy to listen to him though; his voice was soft and made me smile.
“Princess, you okay?” He was setting up the picnic and I smiled.
“Of course. This is cute, River.” We were set up in a field full of daises. It was pretty. I sat next to him, tucking my feet under myself.
“You’re cute.” I blushed at his words, a small flash of happiness filling me.
“You’re cuter.” He grinned at my reply, taking something out of his pocket. It looked like a cigarette. He lit it and took a drag, smiling lazily.
I took a bite of one of the sandwiches he had made, watching the smoke twirl into the air above his mouth. It wasn’t until I was half done with my mouthful that the sharp smell of cannabis hit me. Shocking me, I choked on the chewed up food in my mouth.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?” River’s expressions showed a slight hint of panic but his eyes were still glazed over. How had I never realised?
“Wrong hole.” I choked out. He laughed and winked at me, colour rising in my cheeks again.
“I’ll make sure it isn’t!” He laughed at me as I struggled to calm down from the choking and his comment. He held the joint in his hand out to me and I shook my head, smiling at him.
When I was with River I felt peaceful. We didn’t always have to talk to feel comfortable. Maybe it was due to him being high but it gave me a chance to escape from everyone else and relax.
That’s why I was sad when we were standing outside my apartment. He leant close and pecked me on the lips. I smiled as he pulled away, glad he didn’t try to force anything on me.
“Can we meet again tomorrow, River?” I liked the way I felt around him and, considering I had the time after work, I wanted to feel that way again the next day.
He nodded slowly. He looked ecstatic but I think the drugs made his movements slow. “I’ll text you, Princess.” Grinning, he got in the car and drove off.
I was in a state of bliss as I walked into my apartment. I hadn’t felt so good in a while.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
dedicated to Christa because I've never seen a writer who can put words down as well as her for a long time. Both her fanfics (Ash and Luke) deserve so so many reads!
YOU ARE READING
that damned cigarette ↪ m.c
Fanfiction"This isn't a stupid chick flick movie, Clifford!" "Who said I wanted that?" Once upon a time, there was a boy and girl. She was beautiful and he was handsome. He saved her and she made him realise his wrongs. But what if there wasn't a happy e...
