Damn, You're Cute (Michael Clifford)

Chapter 46

"You totally fit in here," I teased Michael as we walked into the small auditorium for Kate's dance recital. He wore his ripped black jeans and Metallica shirt with flowers in his hands for Kate while I wore a casual dress that ended a few inches above my knees. Michael shot me a lop-sided grin, taking in the other people in the room. The grandparents and parents of children were swarming the auditorium with excited smiles. The grandmothers had big, chunky necklaces on over their pastel colored calf-length dresses. The grandfathers, on the other hand, had pale khakis and tweed jackets with elbow patches and the mothers and fathers were elegantly dressed, chattering quietly to each other about their little girls. A hum of their voices surrounded us.

We ventured into the front of the auditorium where the stage was with the red curtain drawn. Michael stopped suddenly, eyeing specific seats.

"Do you want to sit here?" Michael asked, pointing to four seats in the second row. I nodded, going in first so he could sit beside his aunt and uncle who'd be showing up soon.

We both sat down, directly two rows from the middle of the stage. Michael kept the flowers for Kate under his seat before he draped his arm over the back of my chair near my shoulders, angling his chest toward me so we could talk. I immediately felt the warmth radiate off him from our close distance.

"Thank you for coming with me," he said, looking down at me. I felt something soothing on my shoulder which turned out to be his thumb running over the sleeve of my dress with his hand which was hanging over the front of my chair.

"I really don't mind," I insisted with a smile. No matter what we did, Michael always thanked me for being with him and it was something I'd never forget. We joked about him not being polite, but when he wanted to be, Michael could be the most charming and mannered person I'd ever known.

"Is it weird if I'm nervous?" his leg bounced without his knowledge, just proving his feeling.

"Why are you nervous?" I laughed, resting my hand on his thigh to keep his leg from bouncing. As soon as I did, he inhaled sharply, staring down at my touch. Biting my lip, I realized I might have placed my hand higher up his thigh than I meant. Immediately, I pulled away with an embarrassing blush to my cheeks. "Sorry," I mumbled, sinking down in my seat. Michael just laughed at me, moving his arm from the back my chair to my shoulders so he could pull me into his side, squeezing me slightly to tell me it was okay.

"I'm just nervous that she might mess up or something," he told me like nothing awkward just happened. "Not because I'd be disappointed but because knowing Kate, she'd be so mad at herself."

"Sounds like someone I know," I teased. There was no doubt Kate and Michael were related because they were too similar. "But don't be nervous, she'll be amazing and you know it."

"You're right," he agreed with full confidence in his little sister. Michael's eyes then landed on me, slowly scanning over my face. He leaned closer to me, his nose close to mine with his minty breath fanning over me. It was a dramatic change in the atmosphere between us, going from playful and sweet to serious and heated. I shifted in my seat as he placed his hand over mine and said, "Leah, I think I-"

"Michael!" a lady called from the end of the row, causing both of us to jump and his hand to move to his lap. Michael's head swiveled in the direction of his name, his eyes showing frustration which he immediately hid with a smile. The lady waved as she ungracefully made her way down the aisle of seats to us with Michael's uncle behind her. I realized she was Melissa, his aunt. Michael quickly stood, helpfully holding her arm as she struggled in her heels. "Thank you, dear." she grinned, hugging Michael after. He returned the hug but seemed somewhat annoyed that he couldn't finish what he wanted to tell me. It seemed important too.