Twin Entanglement [C]

Chapter 24 - Ms Murder

 

“Hello there Ms. Murder, aren’t you looking great today!”

I turned around and saw Michael watching me from the stands. I sighed inwardly as he smiled smugly, making no secret of his roaming eyes.

“I’m beginning to think I should join the track team.” He said, appreciating the generous view of leg that my shorts allowed. I watched indifferently as his eyes traced my figure hungrily, lingering on my chest area that was thankfully less exposed as my sports shirt covered me to my neck line. I almost grinned as I caught the tiny glower he made as he stared a second too long. I rolled my eyes in irritation as I moved back to my stretches, my daily training calling to my stiff limbs that had grown too lazy in my recovery.

 “Go ahead and try.” I said shaking my head at the bad luck the universe seemed determined to throw at me lately. I groaned as I wonder if all my morning runs would now be Michael-infested. Shaking off the horrid thought, I flattened my upper body between my legs and reminded myself that the weekend was past.

“Maybe I will…” Michael responded as he made his way down onto the field. Despite his growing smirk as he watched me do my stretches, I noticed the slight hesitation before he moved closer. I looked up as I caught sight of his blue sneakers stopping at my side. Impatience ached in my muscles as I felt his eyes still on me. Silence passed between us as I tried hard to block him out.

“Do you mind, I’d like to get some running in before first period.”

Michael grinned playfully down at me, his blue eyes twinkling in anticipation, “Oh don’t mind me. Just think of me as a spectator.”

Standing up, I ground my teeth as I scowled at him, “Look, is this going to be an everyday thing?”

“What?” He asked innocently, his lips twitching ever so slightly.

“This-this stalking me… thing, I would have thought the punch was enough to get the message across.”

I walked over to my bag sitting on the edge of the track.  Grabbing the water bottle, I drank slowly as I waited for his answer. Michael tilted his head in thought, humming softly.

“Stalking is such a harsh word…” he mumbled curiously.

Looking at the time, I realized I was running out of time for a good run before I had to head for the showers, and that was only if I wanted to still make it for first period. Michael coughed anxiously as he caught me checking my watch. I was beginning to think that he was actually nervous.

“Well whatever you want to call it, just stop.” I said firmly, my eyes straying longingly towards the track.

“I would have thought after Saturday, I’d at least get a smile out of you…” Michael mused sadly. I looked to him in surprise. His voice softer than I had ever heard thought it could go. I began to remember why giving in to Trish and going on the stupid outing had been a bad idea. As I thought about my several failures at keeping a distance between us, I realized that nothing I had done should have given him the idea that I was suddenly okay with going out with him.

Raising my eyebrows in surprise, I lowered the water as I looked to him curiously.

 “And why is that?”

“Well, it’s been my experience that someone can only strongly dislike one person at a time and seeing as how Randy has gained your, surprisingly creative, dislike I should at least be tolerable now, don’t you think?”

Michael watched me curiously, his tone serious. I couldn’t help but stare in disbelief. I wondered how deluded one person could actually be without knowing it.

“Firstly, it’s not that I dislike you. It’s just that-” I don’t want anything from you... I cut myself off quickly, the words hovering on the tip of my tongue. Looking into those blue eyes I suddenly discovered how painfully similar they were to Mia’s. I was also forced to accept that the words weren’t entirely true.

Looking away from his face, I tried to search for the words that didn’t have me coming out to Michael Angel, the one person I did not want to be the first in school knowing about my preferences.

“Never mind…” I trailed off turning abruptly around and walking to the centre of the track.

Michael stepped in front of me, blocking my path. His arm automatically came up, but he seemed to rethink the action as he shoved his hands in to his pockets. His face screwed in concentration as he scanned my face, looking for something.

“What is it, say it.” Michael demanded softly, his voice laden with a strange emotion I couldn’t quite place. For a dangerous moment I wondered if he had figured it out, had he seen the truth somehow.

Shaking my head clear of all the frustratingly paranoid thoughts, I turned to Michael sharply, “Look- I’m flattered by your affections, but- but I’m not interested.” I stated as calmly as I could.

Michael stood silently observing me. His expression gave nothing away as to the thoughts that circled around in his dark head. I looked away, a feeling of guilt raced through me as I realized how harsh my words could have sounded.

“See I could almost believe that… except, you can’t even say the words without flushing.” Michael said softly after a while, his voice warm and strange. Turning to him in surprise, I was unable to believe what I was hearing. Before I could say anything, Michael suddenly threw his hands up in defeat.

“But I get it now, why you want to push me away. I don’t exactly have the greatest of reputations when it comes to relationships.” he smiled sadly, his eyes softening. “And the fact that I had to find out, through a rumor, how you felt about me… well, I can only guess how troubling that is for you.”

Michael moved closer to me, stopping as I caught myself from moving backward as my hand balled into a fist. I was stunned as I looked to Michael, realizing that the playful look that always seemed to be on his expression had somehow vanished. I began to feel extremely uncomfortable as I tried to decipher the look in his eyes. Too distracted to react, I soon found myself unable to move as Michael grasped my shoulders and looked into my eyes passionately.

“But despite what you may think of me, I want you to know that I really do like you… and I hope I get the chance to prove it to you.”

I clenched my fist tighter and before I could blink Michael had already released me and stepped back. He smiled knowingly at me as he moved slowly across the field towards the school’s main entrance.

“But don’t worry; I won’t kiss you until you want me to!” he shouted before turning around and running off.

I was left standing in total disbelief as I watched Michael Angel running through the parking lot. An unbelievable sadness came over me as I watched him and realized my rejection had once again fallen on deaf ears.

Measuring the distance it would take to catch up to him; I took a small step forward. For a split second I had convinced myself of telling Michael Angel the truth, but just as the thought formed, Mia’s face flashed passed my mind’s eye and I realized that saying anything to Michael could possibly hurt the one I really loved somehow. Standing in the middle of the track course I felt a jolt of pain stab me at the idea of Mia Angel looking my way with discrimination and disgust in her eyes.

The morning grew colder as I stood there silently. The bell rang loudly, echoing across the fields and shaking me from my thoughts. Taking a deep breath I moved back to the side of the track and grabbed my bag. I glanced guiltily towards the abandoned track before jogging my way back to the locker rooms.

[Hope you enjoyed that update! Please feel free to comment and tell me what you think of the story so far and thank you for taking the time to read this story, it really means more than you know! ^~^]