Tangled Strings (sequel to Red Strings)

Chapter 34

Skyler's POV

My eyes crack open and I immediately feel dizzy and I sigh rolling over.  It's only then that I realize that I'm not in my own bed.  I scratch the top of my head and spread out remembering the events of last night. I bite my lip confused on what to do, I flip over in frustration screaming into the pillow. I hear the door creak open and I keep my face mashed into the pillow. 

"I thought that was you," Michael says patting my leg. "How ya feeling?" I scream into the pillow. "That good huh?" I turn back around and punch his arm he laughs, "Seriously though how are you?" "Did Nat send you to check on me?" "No.. this is my room remember?" I breathe heavily. 

"Barely, how much did I drink last night?" I ask touching my forehead. Michael shrugs grabbing his laptop off his bedside table. "I'm ok... I think it doesn't have to ruin anything, I mean it's not his fault... we just don't work together anymore I guess" I say trying to convince myself. 

"I refuse to let this ruin anything…." I mumble as Michael types furiously on his laptop.  "Michael." "hmm…" he hums paying no attention. "The house is on fire." "Uh huh." "Natalie's pregnant." "That's cool" "Michael!" I scream and he jumps.  "Jesus what?" "What is so interesting?" I ask him trying to peak at him laptop screen.  He shrieks hiding it from me. 

"Oh my god Michael Clifford are you watching porn?" I gasp wide eyed "Of course not!" I giggle pulling the laptop out of his hands.  I notice his Skype chat is open and don't recognize the name of the person "give it back" Michael whines trying to snatch it back from me. "Who's Nina?" I tease trying to read the chat. "No one, give it back!" I finally give in handing it back to him just as a notification pops up on the screen.

"Do you have a secret girlfriend?" "No, Skyler I don't!" "Then who is she?" "Just drop it?" he pleads I roll my eyes.  "Fine I'm going to get some toast," I inform him jumping off the bed. "Get me some!" he calls as I shut the door.  "Obviously!" 

I turn the radio on and pop four slices of toast in the toaster, I begin to dance around flipping my head back and fourth. Suddenly the music cuts and I'm face to face with Luke Hemmings.  My stomach twists. "Morning!" I grin, Luke bites his lip.  

"Hey" his voice is scratchy and I know that he's hung over. "Do you want some coffee?" I ask knowing full well he likes tea when he's hungover. He stares at me and I stare at the floor. "Uh no thanks I'll just um have some uh tea." I bite my lip. "Okie dokie," I say walking over to the sink.

"Should we talk about last night?" he says all to suddenly. "What is there to talk about?" I say letting the water run. "Skyler I know you don't like to talk about this stuff but, I-I think we have too." I push my tongue into the inside of my cheek and turn the water off. 

"There's nothing to talk about we were in love and now we're not. It's good that we both know when to move on," I lie. What I really wanted to say was I'm in love with you and you don't love me and it fucking hurts but we are not going to turn into Natalie and Calum. 

"Skyler it's just so much is happening right now and we were so young how the hell am I suppose to know what love is I'm a idiot and we were both drunk and I just didn't handle it well and I'm an idiot." "Yeah you are," I tease trying to ease the tension.

"Hello?" Liz's voice rings through the house making me jump. "Shit," I whisper.  "Mom?" Luke replies confused he looks at me and I send him an over exaggerated smile. "Mom!" Luke yells again running to the door he nearly attacks her in a hug and I chuckle leaning against the door post. 

"Hello Liz!" I sing "I had no idea you were coming!" Luke confesses "Well I'm pretty sure that's the point of a surprise hun." "You organized this?!" Luke almost beams looking at me I shrug and he grins at me. "Thank you," he mouths pulling his mom in for another hug.