Between The Books-Michael Clifford

Thirty Three

We get back to Michael's, or what used to be Michael's until he finishes moving, and see we're the first ones home. This is good. I can just hear Synna and Scutter and the endless shit they'd be happy to give us. I do miss Toby though. I didn't get to talk to him at all tonight. When he was at our table, seems like I wasn't, and when I was, he was on stage.

We walk into the kitchen, to the fridge where Michael grabs two bottles of water, then we walk through the front room and down the long hallway towards Michael's room.

As we get closer, I'm starting to get nervous. I'm not really sure what's happening with us. At the bar, after he said he wanted me to come home with him, we held hands but didn't really get to discuss it further because Synna and Laney were having a very loud discussion on who was hotter, guitar players or drummers....all to the amusement of Scutter and Marcus. I don't think that one ever got decided. Becca said basists were the hottest and then everyone kind of broke up and started leaving, with the understanding we'd all meet up back here.

Michael opens the door to his room which is now even more bare then on Tuesday, and turns on the light.

"Sorry about the bed being all there is in here. I realize how this looks. I've been waiting on Marcus to help me move it. I need his truck. He's had tests this week and Scutters' truck has too much of the band's shit in it. Go ahead, sit. I promise you're safe with me." He says smiling.

Um, you don't have to promise that.

I take off my boots and coat and drop them on the floor. Michael takes off his coat and boots, then looks at me.

"You ok here while I go take a quick shower? I'm pretty disgusting right now. I'd let you go first, but Marcus's house has some quirks, one of which is its plumbing. The person who showers first gets the coldest water, so actually I'll be doing you a favor." He says, unbuttoning his jeans.

Ok. Breathe, Star.

"No, that's fine." That's all I can say because, yeah...Michael's taking off his clothes in front of me.

"Ok, I won't be gone long. If you don't want to hang in here staring at my awesome blank walls, I think I heard Toby and Becca come in just now."

"Ok, thanks Michael."

"I noticed you stopped calling me Mikey."

"Yeah, does it bother you? I used to have an idiot neighbor kid whose name was Mikey. It just feels wrong."

"Michaels fine." He says, pulling his Ozzy shirt off over his head and looking at me.

Um, what?

He starts laughing. "Ok. Becca always makes coffee after she's been out drinking. You might want to go get some." He drops his shirt on the floor beside his jeans and walks out of the room in just his boxers.

Fuck! I am the BIGGEST moron! I can't even put a sentence together since he told me he wanted me to come home with him.

Wait. He said I could take a shower after him. What the fuck does that mean?! Holy shit. Where are Toby and Becca?! I get up off the bed and half stumble out of the room. The hallway's dark, but there's light in the front room. I walk down the hall and see them in the kitchen laughing. Sure enough, Becca's making coffee.

"Hey, Star! I missed you tonight, girl! You want some coffee?" Toby says, smiling.

Toby has a way about him that's very comforting. When you meet him for the first time, you instantly feel like you've known him your whole life. Easy to talk to. Completely laid back and just a big sweetheart.

"Thanks, Toby, I would. I missed you too." I walk over to his outstretched arms and hug him.

"Laney ok? That guy was giving her a hard time." He says, letting go and patting the stool beside him.

"Yeah she's good, but like I was telling Michael, Nate's not gonna give up." I sit down on the stool and look at Becca.

"Ahh, he will if Marcus gets ahold of him!" Becca says, laughing.

"Yeah, that's no shit. He held back tonight, but that was only because Laney asked him to. If this guy pushes it, Marcus will put him in the hospital." Toby says, walking around to the fridge and getting out the milk.

Awesome. If I ever see fucking Jax again, I'll have to warn him to back Nate off.

"So what's up, Star? You're freaking, I can see that. Michael in the shower?" He asks, coming back over and sitting down beside me.

"Yes. Oh my gosh, Toby....I like him so much you know?"

"Yeah, I got that." He says, smiling, exchanging a look with Becca.

"He likes you too, Star." She says. Becca takes three mugs out of the cupboard and lines them up on the counter.

"It's just...I haven't been able to find Jax. He was supposed to be there tonight, at the bar, and I was going to talk to him, tell him we were done. Now I'm here...Michael told me earlier, well...ok he kissed me and..."

"He did?!" Becca says, pouring coffee in each one. She turns around and hands a mug to Toby. "I mean, sorry. I just am surprised. He said he was gonna play it cool until you talked to Jax." She says, looking at me.

"No, that's true! He said he wouldn't go any further with us until me and Jax were done. Then...after your set tonight, I put him on the spot I think. Jesus, what the fuck is wrong with me?"

Toby and Becca start laughing.

"Too many shots I'd say." Becca hands me a mug of coffee. "Milk, sugar?"

"Yes, both. Thanks. I told him Jax never showed and asked him if that meant he wouldn't touch me! He thought about it FOREVER and then said he wanted me to come home with him. Now he's in the shower and told me I could go next! What the fuck does that mean?!" I add two spoonfuls of sugar and some milk, stirring it with a spoon Becca hands me.

"Calm down, girl. I know Mikey. You are TOTALLY safe with him. He likes you. We can see that." He looks at Becca and she smiles at me. "He won't mess with you if you're still with Jax. The shower.... is just a shower, Star. You don't have to do it. It was hot in there tonight, and I know we were sweaty mother fuckers up on stage, so yeah, we all NEED to shower. If you don't want to, he won't care! RELAX." Toby reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder.

I relax and take a deep breath. Of course, that makes sense. Why'd I work it up into a frenzy in my brain?!

Because you're a drunk retard.

"Thanks, guys. Sorry I'm freaking out."

"Drink your coffee, Star. Go back and decide about your shower. We'll see you in the morning. Yeah, in case you didn't put it together, you're spending the night."

"Oh, Star, Toby's boss in the kitchen..." Becca starts to say.

"And in the bedroom, Babe." Toby says smiling."

"Of course!" Becca grins.

"Yeah, I'll make you an omelet for breakfast, Star. I'm the king of breakfast around here. Might as well get used to it! Mikey's moving out, but you guys will be sleeping here most of the time. With the band writing and always hanging out here, we end up having a lot of late nights." Toby takes a sip of his coffee.

"Ok. Night guys. Thanks, again. Oh, should I take coffee to Michael?"

"Nah, he doesn't drink it." Becca says.

I turn around and walk back to the room, with my coffee in my hands, leaving Becca and Toby talking about Michael and me.

I just get sat down on the bed, almost calmed down, when Michael walks in....

In just a towel.

Ohhh...sure. Ok.