Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Nineteen

"Hey Kyle."

Kyle's on his way to Carla's room, and I'm on my way back from showering. In my towel.

"Nice look, Star." He says, winking.

"Thanks, you know I try."

I haven't seen Laney since yesterday morning. She was still out when I got home and crashed last night, and gone before I got up this morning. I know she came home though because I got up to get a drink around 2:00 am and she was in her bed. We're supposed to go over to Scutter's at 8:00. Synna's coming to pick us up at 7:30, and it's gotta be close to that now.

I open the door to our room and walk in. I think I'll wear my black skinny jeans and orange tank top with my red zip up hoodie. As I'm thinking about this, I decide to turn on music to get me in the mood. I'm actually nervous as shit.

You aren't doing anything wrong. I shut the door and walk across to my desk, flip on my lamp, and turn on the stereo. I finish drying off and drop my towel. I grab a matching pair of light blue panties and a lace bra.

Why you worried about your underware matching? Shut it.

I pull them on. My favorite perfume is next to my phone, I can see I have a text as I grab the bottle.

Just then the door opens and in walks Laney...and Marcus.

"Whoa! Sorry, Star. I didn't see anything, well not much." Marcus says, laughing and covering his eyes.

Awesome. I pull my jeans up and slip my tank top over my head. "Ok, you can open. Are we all going with Synna, she's gonna be here any minute." I ask, spraying my perfume and walking through it.

"Nope. She texted Marcus, she's gonna meet us there. She's gotta make a....wait, what is that on your shoulder?!" Laney says, walking over to me and pushing my hair aside.

"Oh, do you like it? I just got it today." I say, rubbing my towel through my hair.

"Sexy. Jax'll love it, or were you hoping for a reaction from Mikey? It's hot, and he'll eat that up, Star." Marcus is grinning.

"Laney?" Please tell me she DID NOT say something to Marcus about me liking Michael. I grab a pair of socks from my drawer as I stare at her.

"Oh, Star...I'm so sorry! I was just talking and it slipped out. Don't worry Mikey doesn't know you're into him, but.... everyone else does."

"Oh. My. God...."

"No, Star, it's cool. The guys won't say anything. Actually it wasn't all Laney. Synna told Scutter, and he told Toby. So..." Marcus says.

"Wow. Do you swear Michael doesn't know? Marcus, you're practically fused to my best friend, you better be telling me the truth."

"Promise, Star. You shouldn't worry though. He'd be so into you if he knew." He says.

Really?

I really wish Michael had a girlfriend. It would be much easier. Maybe Kyle's wrong.

"I doubt his girlfriend would appreciate that." I say, shoving my feet in my boots. Marcus would know for sure. Please say he has a girlfriend.

"Mikey doesn't have a girl, so you're good. Course you better dump Jax first." He says wrapping his arms around Laney.

This is the first I've really stopped and looked at then. They're really cute together. Mikey doesn't have a girlfriend.

"Wait, that's not true, Scutter said he and his girl moved in right across from us."

You already know that's his sister. You have a problem. You can't control yourself, so you're willing him to have a girlfriend, making it easy for you not to get with him.

"No, not his girlfriend, that's his sister, Becca. She's cool. She'll be there tonight. She's Toby's girl."

Michael doesn't have a girlfriend. Suck it up and find some control.

"So wait. You and Laney, Synna and Scutter, Toby and Becca, and I'm left with Michael? That's not obvious or anything!" Oh my gosh, just kill me now.

"It's fine, Star. We'll all be together, not coupled up. It'll be fun. I promise if it gets awkward, Marcus and I'll save you, right?" She looks at Marcus.

Marcus nods and grins.

Shit he just needs to stop that. It's really just too delicious, and I'm not even into him.

"Yes. We will save you Star, but I saw you the other night, checkin' Mikey out. I:m not so sure you want saved." He smiles.

He's right. I can see this now. I'm going to get drunk, end up in a closet somewhere with Michael, in nothing but my underware.

Well....there are worse things.