complicated ; clifford

chapter three

You know when I was telling Brandon that I had other plans? I wasn't actually lying, believe it or not. I had a drivers test, and I was very excited. I didn't want to drive before because of my conditions, but now that my depression was getting a little better, I decided to take a chance, and if I die, then I get what I've always wanted.
Right before my test, I decided to take a break at the park, since it was raining, and the park was empty.
That's when I felt a tap on my shoulder. And there was Michael Clifford, creeping up on some girl just because she had called him earlier.
"What, Michael?" I asked, obviously annoyed by his arrival.
I guess he took that as a "Welcome Michael. Want to sit down and chat?" because he just sat on the swing next to me and asked me what's up.
"The sky. And you know what the sky rhymes with? Bye." I said, gathering my stuff so I could go to my house.
But just like last time, Michael Clifford could not get over himself.
"Do you want to go to Starbucks?" Michael sighed, and I'm not sure why, but he seemed annoyed.
"Do you always do this?" I asked, completely unamused.
"Do what?" Michael questioned, defensively.
I sighed. "Take girls out for Starbucks, get them to bang you, and then never talk to them again unless your feeling horny," I replied quickly.
"Is there-" Michael started to ask, but I interrupted him.
"Michael, I have to go somewhere today, and it's really important to me, so can we continue this conversation tomorrow?" I asked apologetically, but really not feeling at all apologetic.
"We're meeting up tomorrow?" Michael asked, his face lighting up.
I did just say that, didn't I. "Whatever," was all I could say, before leaving Michael behind in the park once again.
~
"Mom, why can't you just be my mom for once? Can't you see that this is a really important day for me? Just one ride, that's all I need," I screamed. My mom was just now deciding that she didn't want to drive me to my drivers test. "Please?" I urged, much quieter, almost a whisper this time.
"If you wanted someone to drive you, you should've kept everyone in your life. Look where you are now- No friends, begging your mom to drive you places, about to fail your drivers test at age seventeen. I feel humiliated to have you as my daughter," My mother scoffed as she walked to the kitchen and got out a bottle of vodka.
I could feel the tears threatening to fall from my eyes, so I ran straight out the door.
My vision was blurred by my tears, but I knew exactly where I was going. I knew every street and stop sign along the way. Because I had been to this place about a million times before, and before I could stop myself, I rang the doorbell. Right before I was about to run away to my shed, Brandon opened the door.
"Anna! Oh my gosh, hey Anna!" Brandon exclaimed, pulling me in for a hug. Then it seemed he noticed that I had been crying because his expression suddenly looked worried. "Anna," Brandon paused, as if he knew something had happened at my house. "Do you want to come in? Sit down," Brandon said, taking me down to the living room where I took a seat on the couch. "Do you want to talk about it? Wait, can I get you coffee?" Brandon asked.
I only shook my head.
"Okay. Well I'll be right back," Brandon said hurriedly, running upstairs. He came back down with a bag full of things. Brandon set the bag down.
"Here we have Mean Girls, Spring Breakers, and seasons one through four of Pretty Little Liars," Brandon said, putting the DVDs aside. "And then I have tissues, M&Ms, and a sweatshirt you left here last summer," Brandon said, handing me the sweatshirt.
"How do you even have this stuff?" I finally decided to speak.
"Well..." Brandon started, as his face turned bright pink. "I was cleaning my closet the other day, and I found your sweatshirt, and I decided to keep it, because it was the only piece of you I had left,"
I had no words, but I must've started crying again, because Brandon handed me the box of tissues, put Mean Girls in the DVD player, and sat down next to me, wrapping his strong arms around me. I hated crying in front of people, because it made me-the strong girl who only wears black and has to pay for her own therapy sessions because her mom hates her guts- seem vulnerable.
"Brandon?" I asked, about two minutes into the film.
"Hmm?" He replied, looking over at me.
"I... Can you drive me to my drivers test? My mom wouldn't take me, and then we got into this big fight about how I'm the worst daughter ever, and then I, well I came here, and now I'm wondering if you'll take me? You can stay and watch also. That'd be pretty cool," I rushed, giving him a small smile after that last part.
"I would love to take you, Anna. And about what your mom said, you are amazing. One of the most amazing girls I have ever met, and don't ever listen to what that lady tells you, because you are so special, and you deserve to be loved. By your mom, I mean," Brandon said, rushing the last part.
"Thanks, Brandon," I said leaning into his chest, and then taking notice of the clock. "Oh!" I exclaimed and then got up. "My test starts in fifteen minutes!"
"Don't worry Anna," Brandon said calmly. "We'll make it, I promise."
But I wasn't sure whether he was talking to me or himself on that last part.
~
"Thank you," Brandon and I both said at the same time to the lady behind the counter at the drivers school. We had actually gotten there five minutes early. Apparently the place was less than ten minutes away from Brandon's house.
As Brandon and I sat down on a bench, I saw a way too familiar unnatural red head.
"What are you staring at?" Brandon asked, obviously noticing that something had captured my attention.
"Brandon, do you want to meet a friend of mine?" I asked, having no idea what in the world I was doing.
He started laughing. Laughing. "You have friends?" Brandon asked, still finding this whole situation hilarious.
"So, I'm guessing you don't want to meet him, then," I said, getting up.
"Him?" Brandon stopped laughing and stared at me with his piercing dark brown eyes.
"I promise you I don't have a boyfriend," I laughed. "Although he's gonna make it seem like I do," I muttered, walking away from Brandon, and towards Michael.
"Anna! I missed you," Michael nearly shouted.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You do realize that we just saw each other a couple hours ago, right?" I said flatly.
Michael looked down and cleared his throat. "Anna, this is Luke, Luke this is Anna," Michael said, gesturing to a blonde boy around my age sitting behind him.
"Oh yay, another Michael. I can't wait until I get to meet the other two," I said sarcastically, as Michael rolled his eyes.
"Well, Luke's here to take his drivers test," Michael said in attempt to change to subject.
"Same," I said.
"Anna Benson!" Some lady called, and next thing I knew, I was face to face with a steering wheel.
~
"Welcome to Starbucks, what can I get you today?" The barista, who's name tag read Stan asked.
"A Grande Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, please," Brandon said.
"You still like the same thing, right?" He whispered in my ear, as I nodded.
"And a Tall Skinny Vanilla Latte, please," Brandon said. That was one thing that we had in common, our love for vanilla. I decided that I could just purge imy drink out afterwards instead of skipping it, since Brandon would be worried if I didn't have anything.
"What do you guys want?" I asked Michael and Luke. Brandon, Michael, Luke and I were out at Starbucks to celebrate that Luke and I had both passed our drivers tests. I had found out that Luke was eighteen, only a year older than me.
After Michael and Luke ordered, Brandon and Michael got into a fight over who was going to pay for everybody. While they were too busy arguing, I slipped the guy a twenty and headed over to the other counter with Luke.
"You know, Michael really likes you," Luke said quietly. He didn't really seem like one to talk much.
"I know," I replied. "But it's not like I feel the same way. My life is too complicated to feel that way about anyone, really," I lied.
"But what about Brandon, you guys are a thing, right?"
"Actually, he's my ex," I said quickly. "We sort of started talking again yesterday, but-" thankfully, I got interrupted by Brandon and Michael literally screeching my name, because they found out I had payed the guy.

As we found a table to sit down at, Michael and Brandon were arguing about who knows what, which left Luke and I to discuss a couple things.

"So, when are you guys leaving?" I asked. "Not trying to be rude or anything, just curious," I said, after seeing Luke's expression.

"We're actually for another month, and then we have a world tour," Luke said.

"I'm gonna miss you, Anna," I heard Michael say. Michael and Brandon must have been listening on to our conversation.

"Whatever," I laughed, and went to throw my cup away.

---------

Sorry it took a while to update omg

I hate Anna's mom so much ughhh

Well this part sucks so I'm gonna go eat now k byeee guys:))