Jack Daniels || Michael Clifford ||

15

“Who the fuck is Taylor?” Terra asks, taking the phone out of my hands, her eyes wide.

“I have no clue.” I sigh, running my hands through my hair.

“Why the fuck did he call you Taylor?” She scoffs. “And why the hell does he need directions to meet her somewhere?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” I grumble, grabbing a pillow and shoving my face in it.

“When did he text you this?”

“Saturday.” I say, my voice muffled.

“And you’re barely telling me now? It’s Monday!” Terra says, slapping my arm.

“Ouch.” I whine. “I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it…”

After I’d gotten the text, I’d been distraught. I’d hardly eaten anything, and as much as I had tried to stay away from drinking, I’d fucked up. I stayed away from the house all weekend, finding a motel to sleep in, not somebody to sleep with. As much as I wanted to sleep around, I couldn’t get my mind off of Michael. I wasn’t emotionally ready to sleep with someone else and that scared the fuck out of me. I’d only slept with Michael once anyway, and that was before there were any strings attached. I was never so emotionally involved with someone that I couldn’t sleep with anyone after breaking up with them. So I just got drunk instead. Really fucking drunk. I stumbled into the house this morning and Terra called Quinn, telling her I was okay and just drunk.

“You know what? I’ll talk to Calum and-”

“No.” I say, sitting up immediately. “You cannot get anyone else involved. And you better not tell Quinn.”

“Fine. I won’t say anything.” Terra groans, pushing her glasses up. “This is just so stupid. Guys always treat you like-”

“I’m gonna act like I don’t know.” I tell her. “Maybe he’ll fess up to it. If he doesn’t, then I’ll tell him I know.”

“Okay.” Terra says slowly, nodding her head. “That seems like a good enough idea.”

“I’m gonna go get ready for that meeting I have.” I tell her with a groan, rubbing my head.

“The one about getting your photography published in that magazine?”

“Yeah, that one.”

“Don’t wear too much make up.”

“I know.”

“And don’t dress like a slu-”

“Yeah, I get it.” I tell her with a sigh.

 

~~~

 

“So, how’d it go?” Michael asks with a grin as I step outside of the building.

“It went okay.” I tell him with a soft smile as he wraps his arms around me.

“You look nice.” He compliments me as he pulls away.

“Thanks.” I mutter, looking down at my torn jeans and white shirt. “I’m not wearing black today.”

Michael gives me a small smile. “But you still look beautiful. And look, you even curled your hair and didn’t put on make up.”

“I didn’t want to scare them.” I tell him with a dry laugh.

“Oh come on, you wouldn’t have scared them.” He tells me, taking my hand and walking towards his car. “You hungry? Wanna go out to lunch?”

“No, I’m okay.” I tell him with a frown. “But if you’re hungry, I’ll go with you.”

“Hey, are you okay?” He asks as we stop in front of his car.

“Yeah, I’m fi-”

“Tell me what’s wrong.” He tells me quietly, resting his forehead against mine.

“Nothing, Michael. I’m-”

“Did I do something?” He asks, his eyes frantically searching mine for any form of response.

“No, I’m just in a bad mood.”

“Okay.” He says unsurely. “You sure?”

“Yeah.” I tell him, forcing a smile onto my face. “I’m sure.”

 

~~~

 

“I won’t be able to eat for the next three years.” Michael groans as he throws himself onto his couch.

I laugh quietly as I close the door behind us and kick off my shoes. “We both know you’ll be eating in the next half hour.”

“That’s upsettingly true.” Michael says, stretching his arms out to me. I sigh and grab his hands as he pulls me down onto the couch with him. “Wanna watch a movie?”

“Sure.” I tell him half heartedly.

“Seriously, Azlyn. What’s going on?” He asks quietly, locking his eyes with mine.

I look away. “Nothing. I’m just feeling kind of moody-”

“Aw, c’mon. I can’t have my favorite girl in the whole world be upset.” He whines, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.

I wonder if he tells Taylor the same thing.

I pull away with an awkward laugh and push my hair behind my ear. “So, um, movie?”

Michael frowns slightly, but nods anyway. “Yeah, you got anything in mind?”

“I don’t really care.” I answer, biting down on my lip. I’m starting to get emotional and it’s making me feel weak as shit.

“Okay.” He whispers, giving me a worried look before putting a random movie on. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and traces patterns up and down my arm affectionately.

We stay silent as the movie begins and I sit up as straight as possible, pushing away from Michael whenever he gets too close to me. He looks over at me several times during the first part of the movie, but I can hardly look at him, much less make eye contact with him. He’s fucking cheating on me.

Fuck, I was so stupid to think he was different.

I’m just too blinded by how much I like to him realize one universal truth: All guys are the same. No matter what they tell you, or how they treat you, they’re always going to end up pulling your heart out of your chest and stomping on it so hard it turns into ash.

“Are you crying?” Michael asks, pausing the movie and turning to face me. His eyes are wide and worried and he looks completely panicked.

I shake my head as I pull back and stand up, sniffling slightly and forcing back tears. I plan on crying the second I get home and not a moment before then. “I’ve gotta go, Michael.”

“Okay, seriously, what the hell is going on?” Michael asks, standing up and grabbing my arm. “I did something, didn’t I?”

“No, Michael. It’s fine. You didn’t do anything-”

“Azlyn, just tell me what I did so I can explain myself and stop looking like an idiot.” He tells me with a slightly forced smile. He looks guilty, scared even.

“I think we should see other people.” I blurt out.

“What?” He whispers, his face falling.

“I’m sorry Michael, I should really go.” I say, opening his apartment door and stepping out into the hallway. I blink back tears as I shut the door behind me and head home.