Changing Heart

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Michael

I stopped in front of a shop window, studying my reflection and making sure my hair looked all right. Pulling a hand roughly through it to make it look a bit shabby but still cool, I continued to school.

       Luckily our exams hadn't begun yet, so I could still relax at school. I always got middle grades, not too bad and not too good. I wouldn't want to stick out, of course. I had to keep my image as a cool guy, without being a drop out or a nerd.

       My friends waved at me when I reached our school. I had many friends, and everybody used to stand chatting a big group outside school as they waited for me to join up.

"Hey, Michael! How was your weekend?"

       I smiled at the memory.

"Absolutely amazing. The snow was great and we had so much fun. And I met this wonderfully funny girl called Isa-"

"But you don't like her, right? I mean, like her?"

       My smiled widened and I prepared myself for their shocked faces when I told them I had broken up with Lucy. But before I could start, my friends started talking again.

"Of course, you can't leave Lucy now. You aren't planning on that, I hope?"

This was starting to get confusing. Why would they care about Lucy?

"What about Lucy?"

The boys shared a glance.

"You know she's in the hospital, right?"

"She had a heart attack."

"I thought you had already visited her. Are you just gonna leave her there alone?"

I stood frozen, trying not to look shocked. Lucy was in the hospital? This was bad. Really bad.

"If you leave her now for some other girl, you're a real dick, you know that?

       My mouth opened and closed slowly. What was I gonna tell them? I had already broken up with her. To cover the silence, I laughed awkwardly and ruffled up my hair.

"Of course I knew that! I was just visiting her! I'd never leave her in such a bad situation."

       My friends looked relieved. I had saved the situation, but I had to work hard so none would figure out what had really happened between Lucy and me.

       I had to pretend in some way that we were still together. If not, everyone would despise me for being so mean to a girl whose life was in danger. And that could never happen. Never.

Lucy

I laughed loudly, trying to push away Daniels hands. "Stop, please! Please, I hate tickling." Still giggling, I wrenched myself free and jumped away from his torturing tickling.

       I ran a hand through my hair and found it full of knots and tangles after our play fight. Sending Daniel a murderous glance as he smiled of me, I walked to the bathroom mirror to try and brush it out.

       The girl in the mirror looked so pale and weak. I almost hadn't slept this weekend, but Daniel had kept me with company and we had talked a lot. My eyes looked tired and the tangles in my hair didn't help much.

       Suddenly Daniel was behind me, carefully brushing through my hair with his fingers and loosening the tangles. I smiled at him, and thought about how lonely I would be here at the hospital without him.

       It was him that helped me answering the nurse's questions, him that calmed me down when I woke all night with a hammering heart, and him that made me laugh when I wanted to give up.

       A knock on the door made us jump away from each others as if we were guilty in something. The same nurse that had talked with me the first day peered in.

"Miss Lucy Hales? You have a visitor. Shall I send him in?"

       I wrinkled my eyebrows in confusion. Who could that be? Not my mother, I hoped...

       I nodded to the nurse to send in the visitor as Daniel went out of the room to give me some privacy. I seated myself on the bed again, so I would not stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. Closing my tired eyes a moment, I waited for the mystical visitor to enter.

       Soon, I heard soft footsteps and a deep, slightly hoarse voice calling out my name. A terribly known voice.

What the hell was Michael doing here?

       Blinking my eyes open, I saw that my ears were right. Michael was standing right in front of me, as beautiful as ever. His dark eyes and masculine jaw made such a good fit it wasn't strange half the girls in my class had been in love with him at some point.

       But what was he doing here? He had broken up with me, and after three days I had finally accepted that! To return like this - was he trying to torture me?

       Michael seated himself on the bed, looking like he was in a loss of words. I sat frozen, making fist of my hands so they would not automatically seek Michael's.

"Lucy."

       Only one words, but still filled with feelings. He sounded apologetic, a bit embarrassed and sad. Was he going to apologize now?

       "Lucy, can you forgive me?"

       No. I will never forgive you.

       Michael lifted his glance to my face, and reached out his arms slowly, so I could turn away if I wanted.

       I will not forgive you. I will not let you hug me like everything is okay. I will not...

       And suddenly I was sobbing against his shoulder, clinging to him and burying my head into the so well-known smell of him. I still loved him, as I had the past three years, and I couldn't make myself resist him.

       His hand was stroking my hair, and I felt so safe being in his arms again. I never wanted to leave. But I had to know one thing.

"Why? Why did you leave me?"

"I didn't want to, Lucy. I never wanted."

"Then why?"

"My parents forced me. They threatened to move if I didn't give up on you, so I would never see any of my friends again. I was afraid then, so I did as they told me. But as soon as I heard you had been injured, I realized that it didn't matter what they wanted. "

       His warm hands were cupping my face, and I was drowning into his dark eyes as he talked.

       "I love you, Lucy. Will you forgive me?"

       I wanted to make him explain more, to say no, or push him away, but I  couldn't do it. He was so known. So when he leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine, there was nothing could do but kiss back.

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