Rebel: Michael Clifford

Chapter 5

I wake up to my phone vibrating. I don't even look at it before trying to go back to sleep, but whoever is calling sure is persistent.

Eventually I grab my phone, it's Michael. "what?" I answer groggily.

"Do you have my car?" he asks.

"Yes, why?" it seems like a stupid question, but hey, I'm tired.

"Because I want my car back." I can picture him rolling his eyes at the moment.

"Well, I just woke up." I tell him. "so it might be a while."

"Carm, it's almost one in the afternoon." He informs me. Quite frankly though, I don't care how late it is.

"Yeah well, I was up pretty late last night."

"So was I, and I have a pretty nasty hangover."

"You sound fine to me." I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, well, I have a pounding headache."

"That's your own fault." I say, hanging up and going back to sleep. My phone rings again so I turn it off.

As I start to drift back to sleep there's a loud thump, and then my father screaming. "CARMEN!"

My whole body tenses as I here his loud footsteps getting nearer. My bedroom door slams open and my father throws something at me. "Can't even put you're shoes away? You're such a lazy piece of shit." he accuses.

"It's not that big of a deal." I say quietly, trying to hold the tears back.

"No, it is a big deal. I could've broke my neck." he tells me. "but you don't care right? It's all about you all the time, you never show any appreciation for me."

Just then something inside me snaps. I stand up, for once in my life, and say. "Maybe I'd appreciate you if you actually treated me like an actual human being, but instead you toss me around like a rag doll. I'm sick and tired of it!"

"I will treat you however I god damn please." he says, grabbing me by the arm and pulling me closer. "and if you don't like it then you can leave." I struggle to get out if his grip, as its hurting my arm. "don't you dare cry." he spits, pushing me back. "you brought this on yourself."

He leaves, slamming the door behind him. I collapse to the ground in a pile if tears. Hatred burns through my body, but not for my father, for me. I hate myself because I can't be who he wants me to. I'm never good enough for him. I hate my self because I can't follow his rules. But most of all I hate myself because I don't hate him. No matter how much he hurts me he's still my father and I still love him.

Suddenly I stand up. I can't be here right now. I need to get away.

I walk over to my closet and pick out some clothes. Then head to my bathroom to do my makeup and hair, wouldn't want anyone to know I've been crying.

Once I'm finished I quietly leave the house without anyone knowing where I'm going. Of course I'm just going to Michael's to drop off his car, but they don't need to know that.

Once I pull out of the driveway my heart begins to beat rapidly, though I'm not sure why. My gut is telling me that something bad is going to happen, but I keep driving. By the time I get to Michael's house my heart feels like its going to leap right out of my chest and my breathing is uneven. Shakily, I walk up to the door and knock.

"It's about time." Michael says, swinging open the door. "Wait what's wrong?"

"Nothing." I smile, reassuring him.

"Carmen," he warns. "don't lie to me."

"I'm not." I say, but my voice is shaky and Michael isn't convinced.

"Come here." he says, pulling me inside and wrapping me in his warm embrace. I can't help but let a few tears slip out of my eyes. "it's going to be okay." he says, rubbing slow circles around my back.

We stay like that for a few minutes before I pull away. "better?" he asks.

"Yeah." I nod.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

I shake my head no. "my makeup probably looks really bad, doesn't it?" I ask.

"Just a little." he jokes, causing me to laugh. "aha yes! I've made you laugh." he does a cute little happy dance, causing me to laugh even more.

"Okay, okay, where's you're bathroom?" I ask, needing to go fix my face.

He points me in the direction. I look in the mirror and can't help but laugh, I look like a clown.

Once I finish I walk back out. "you look so much better now." he teases.

"Whatever." I laugh. Just then my phone goes off.

"Hello?" I answer. its my mom.

"You better come home." she tells me.

"Mom, what's wrong." I start to panic.

"Just come home."