Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Twenty Three

"He's so hung up on her, Star. He hasn't stopped talking about her since he first saw her last Saturday."

Mikey and I are both on the couch. I have a blanket over me because it's seriously cold in this old house they live in. He's been playing different songs, some he's written, some of the bands stuff. I really was wrong about what punk music is. Lickit has a punk vibe but mostly it's just kick ass rock. Michael has a great voice and I found out some of the songs the band does, he sings lead on.

We've been drinking beer all night, just talking, making fun of his friends and mine, and of course our older then dirt history of civ professor. Mikey's major is political science, minor in history. He's in his third year.

"Really? You mean before they met that night, before Scutter introduced us to you guys?" I say, taking another drink and finishing my beer.

"Oh absolutely. He saw her when we first went on stage to warm up."

"Please tell me he's not using her, you know, just for sex. She really likes him. She had a serious boyfriend, for over a year. They'd gotten in a fight over her screwing around with her English prof...oh shit. Please don't tell anyone that! I don't wanna get Laney or him in trouble."

I can't believe I just blurted that out.

"Ah, Max Shaffer. No worries, him dating his students isn't news. He's the dean of arts and sciences nephew, or some shit, so he'll never get in trouble. She's done with him though?"

"Oh, hell yes! As soon as she saw Marcus, I'm not even joking, Michael....sorry

Mikey, yeah she drop kicked Max to the curb." I'm laughing. Partly because I'm pretty drunk, and also because we're having just way too much fun ripping on our friends.

"Good because Marcus is serious about her, and to answer your question, no he's definitely not using her. Here's the thing with Marcus. He gets girls really easy. He's so stupidly good looking, the girls practically trip over themselves trying to get in his bed. He doesn't turn them down...until now, Star. Since Saturday, every girl that's come his way has been turned away. Oh, and until tonight, he and Laney, they haven't had sex. I don't know if they are now, maybe."

"No. Laney is a walking hormone! I don't mean that the way it sounds, she doesn't sleep around, but when she does get a boyfriend, she doesn't wait. I figured they probably did each other in the bathroom at the Ugly Tuna! How do you know they haven't?"

"He told me! He doesn't want to fuck it up. He's NEVER said that before about anybody. I think it's the real deal for him."

"Oh that's sweet! I know it is for her too. Well, I guess. I haven't seen her almost AT ALL since Saturday!" I say, laughing.

"Yeah that's because she's been mostly here. Except for last night, I think she's spent every night here."

Wow. Laney and Marcus.

"Come on, let's go get more beer and see what the others are doing." He stands up and holds both hands out to me.

I take them and he pulls me up off the couch, right into his arms I fall, thanks to my foot getting tangled in the blanket.

"Sorry!" I say, embarrassed.

"I'm not." He grins, and let's me go.

He's flirting, right? I mean, not outwardly, just every so often he says something like this. He told me I was beautiful. Synna said he likes me.

Synna's not reliable. She might've just been trying to embarrass you.

We walk out of his room and back down the hall. There's a lot of noise and laughing. Somebody's having fun. I can hear Synna's cackle.