Always M.C.

Chapter One

"Michael! Stop!" I screeched as he squeezed my sides. "Michael!"

"Okay I'm done! I'm done!" Michael giggled, kicking his feet out on the coffee table and reaching his hands behind his head.

"Hey!" I protested pushing his feet from the coffee table.

"What was that for?"

"I would like to not be killed by my parents, thank you very much."

"They love me!" Michael once again propped his feet up on the glass table just as my mom walked through the door. She was struggling to carry multiple brown paper bags filled with groceries.

"Michael feet off the table." She casually said, closing our apartment door.

"Sorry." He said hanging his head and slowly walking towards my mother.

"Do you want some help?" Michael reached out his arms. My mom dumped all the bags into Michael's chest. He looked over at me asking for approval as my mom clicked the Bluetooth in her ear waking away to take the call. I pursed my lips into a thin lip giving him an apologetic look.

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"You know, you're really lucky to have me." Michael said a little too cockily.

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes pushing him a little too violently from my position on the kitchen counter. Then, my mom walked into the kitchen, her too-high heels clicking on the tiles.

"Yes. First flight out. Okay. I understand. I'm heading out now." My eyes flickered to the suitcase between the kitchen doorway and my mother's feet. I looked at the suitcase and back at Michael at least three times. His was response was the same apologetic look I gave him earlier. "Yes. I'm there by tomorrow. Okay. Bye." She finished clicking the piece that was permanently attached to her ear. "So, I'll be back Monday. Michael's mother said you can stay there." She spoke looking directly at him. "Be good, polite, and I expect nothing but the usual from you. You can be here during the day and whatever but please sleep at Mrs. Clifford's. And thank her for letting you stay with her. God knows you're a handful." I glance over to Michael and he gives me a very subtle reassuring smile. "Please be good." her tone changing from buisness to mother.

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"Scarlett please watch Michael. I'll be back by eleven." I checked the time on my phone; four. "Love you kids!" Michael's mother called as she shut the apartment door.

"Love you too!" we called simultaneously. Mrs. Clifford was always like a mother to me, especially two years ago when my dad walked out on me. My mom had to get two jobs since then he's always out on buisness trips halfway across the country.

"Guess it's just us." Michael said winking at me.

"Stop, I'll throw up." I started to make gagging noises bending the other way. When I didn't get a reaction out of Michael I turned back around to see Michael staring me down. He was about eight feet taller than me even though we were both sitting on the floor. He was looking at me like he had something to say. I thought he might explode if he didn't say whatever it was.

"I'll be right back." Michael said quickly walking to the bathroom and slamming the door behind him.

I waited a good fifteen minutes while I heard Michael throw a fit in the bathroom. I heard him slam cabinets, open and close the shower curtain about twenty-seven times, and I think he open the bathroom window. I pushed myself off his floor and lazily began walking to his bathroom. Then I heard Michael unleash the most raspiest, loudest, violent scream in the world. My speed quickened and I heard another scream as I broke out into a full blown sprint.

"Michael!" I screamed attempting to open the locked door. "Michael!" I slammed both of my fists on the door until he opened it. And then I wish he hadn't.