Be Mine Tonight - Michael Clifford

Chapter 9 - 3 a.m

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SELF HARM.

No one at school seemed to notice my eye. I tried to avoid talking to everyone as much as I possibly could. Carly noticed something was wrong, but I had to lie to her. Honestly, all I wanted to do was go home and play my xbox. Which was something I barely had done since I started dating Adam. He always wanted to go out to parties, and I wanted to stay home. I went with him anyway because that's what a good girlfriend does. Right?

The final bell of the day rang and I headed to my locker. "Hey, Ri. Want a ride home? I didn't see your car in the parking lot" Carly said as she threw her books into her locker.

"I came with Adam this morning. But yes, that would be great. Thanks" I said

She furrowed her brow. "Tell me what's wrong"

I slammed my locker shut and wiped a hand across my face. "nothing, Car."

She looked at me and her eyes widened. I hoped to god my bruise wasn't showing. There is no way she would believe the 'I ran into a door excuse' I just turned and walked away. "What the hell happened!" She followed behind me. I ignored her and walked faster down the hall. "Riley!" She finally started to catch up to me and grabbed my arm.

"Let me go" i snapped

"What happened to your face, Riley?"

I snatched my hand away and started patting at my makeup. "It's nothing"

"Dammit, Riley! That's not nothing!"

I needed to get her off my back so I snapped. "Will you mind you own damn business for once! Ever since we were little you have always hovered over me and I'm sick of it. It is none of your business! Stop acting like I owe you every piece of information about my life. Just because you have nothing interesting going on in yours doesn't mean you have to try and hijack mine! This" I pointed to my face "is nothing. I said it is nothing and I mean it. Don't ask me again, Carly"

She stared, dumbfounded and I took that as the chance to leave. Fighting with Carly now meant I had two options to get home. Walking or riding with Adam. Since I didn't really feel like having another awkward car ride, I decided to walk.

I pulled my headphones out of my bag and pulled up The Cab's album Symphony Soldier. Otherwise known as one of the best albums ever. The air outside felt amazing on my face. Spring in Ohio actually was decent when it wasn't raining. But soon it would make a dramatic change into summer and that means tragic muggy days. But I was excited for summer. I was also excited for graduation in three weeks. Everything was finally becoming real. I decided to skip my first year of college. I want to go out and live a little bit of life before I start with the serious stuff. My parents were pissed when I told them.

My Mom just kept asking if I was sure. If I really thought it would be okay to take such a long time off. But she never once told me no. She was mad, but she wanted me to be happy. Honestly, I don't know how to be happy. What I do know is I want to know what life is before I'm stuck planning for it.

I passed the 5sos house when I entered my neighborhood. I thought about stopping in, just so Michael could see I was okay, but decided not to.

"Mom?" I said as I entered my house.

"In here!" she said from the kitchen.

I took a deep breath and headed to the kitchen. She was going to see the bruise sooner or later, so i might as well tell her now. "Okay, so don't get mad. But I kinda got in a fight with a door" She was at the counter cutting some kind of vegetable. She looked up at my face and almost chopped her finger up with the knife.