Bash

~9~

CHAPTER 9: Danger Zone

"Michael, don't you think it's a bit weird that I just got home the other day and you're treating me like a girlfriend..?"

"No I haven't thought that over..."

He sat back in his seat, I felt a bit bad only because I felt like I crushed him. He was taking this 'relationship' a bit too fast. Plus I still have to break the news that I won't even be here for graduation.

I got a text from Maddi when we were driving home from my mom's. That's why I was crying, I deleted the text but we're leaving on January 4th. How ironic is it, that I'm leaving the same day as I did two years ago. This time it won't be as painful to say good bye to anyone, everyone will be celebrating their graduations while I get back on tour.

Also I told myself I wouldn't fall for him, even if he keeps perusing the whole 'I'm going to date June' thing, I'm going to say no. I should have pushed him away from the first kiss. The one he payed me back for at the airport. "Alright I've got two Dr.Peppers, y'all ready to order?"

"Umm yeah, the ham and bacon omelet please. Breakfast potatoes and toast, white."

"Damn... breakfast for dinner, smart."

"Thanks Michael."

"I'll have the BLT wrap with fries and no dressing please."

"Alright one omelet and one wrap, coming up in 30 mins!"

Nicole walked away smiling. She had a lovely smile if she didn't have braces still. I guess they went longer than expected and she still has them on.

"So, June..."

I looked at Michael and he had the fakest smile on his face. That wasn't good.

"Yes Mikey?"

"Your arms, are they okay?"

"Huh?!"

I look down at my arms and saw that the cuts were exposed. Shiiittttt... He saw them and I jerked my arms away fast.

"So that's what you're hiding from me.. Why did you do it?"

"It was three months ago.. Don't worry about them."

I looked away from him so I wouldn't have to see his depressed face. There was a brief silence before he started to talk again. His tone wasn't to friendly either.

"Three months or not, they shouldn't be like that."

"The skin got week over the years when I use to cut every single day. Some of them break out and bleed a bit."

"But why would you cut three months ago?"

"I was going through hell on tour for a bit. It relieved stress for me."

"You could have called your friends at home you know."

"I didn't know if you guys considered me as a friend or foe, sense I was gone so long I didn't know shit."

"Well you should have known that I was there for you no matter what.. I made a promise to you back before you got famous."

"I forgot while I was on tour, when I was in Japan I had some time to think to myself and what I wanted to do. Think clearly for once and be free."

"So are you saying you forgot about us while on tour?"

At this point he was getting a bit mad. I didn't want to upset him, not with my just getting home and all. I just wanted to be friends.

"Michael, you're making me feel a bit uncomfortable, can you calm down a bit?"

"Why should I, huh?" He grabbed my wrists, I winced in pain as he pulled the sleeves down to see all the cuts and scars, "That's why! You promised me June, you broke that promise!"

I teared up when he squeezed them a bit. He didn't see, he had rage in his eyes.

Nicole came out with the food, Luke followed behind helping her. Nicole just about dropped her plate when she saw Michael squeezing my wrists. She placed the food down on another table and dashed toward us. "WHOA, Michael stop! She's crying!"

Luke saw what she was doing and did the same running over to Michael's side. He was pulling him back, only that made it worse for me. "Dude let her go!"

"She broke a promise..."

He's like a broken record that never stops. Squeezing tighter and tighter, what felt like forever was only a mere two minutes. Nicole slapped him out of nowhere. "Snap out of it! This is not the Michael Clifford we know!"

Michael let go right away, I never knew he was like that... Was it a overprotected feature of him or something likewise? Whatever it was, I didn't like it.

Michael blinked a few times before he realized I was crying. "Shit... Did I.."

"Dude it's getting worse.."

"I have to go."

Michael darted out with those last words. I was quiet, till Luke sat down in front of me. He had a sad face on as Nicole gave me my food and boxed up Michaels for me to take to him. "Michael didn't mean it."

"What happen to make him do that, I mean what did I do?"

"You did nothing wrong, he told you about his mom right?"

"Yeah he told me, why?"

"Well before she passed away, she promised to see him. She did, so he keeps promises as a serious thing."

"Sounds like something I said to my dad."

"Sorry, don't mean to bring up sad memories."

"No, just continue with what you're saying. I'm fine okay!"

"Well since then, he takes a promise to heart, and when someone breaks their promise with them, he blacks out and hurts the others around him. Not intentionally but by accident, he's hurt the guys and I before but we know that he never meant it.

"Oh my god... I didn't know, I feel like the worse person ever.."

"Don't, he'll probably explain it to you tonight.."

Nicole came out with a box for me and Michael's food. "Here I thought you'd want to take it to his house. I'll drive you, I'm getting off right now."

"Thanks Nicole, that'd be nice."

With that Nicole boxed up the food and went to her car. I followed looking down in fear of making someone depressed.

It was 7pm when we got to Mikey's house, his car wasn't there which means he probably took it out. "Nicole can you and I just hang like the old days..?"

Nicole had the brightest smile and drove to her house. We got into the drive and she bolted out of the car in excitement. "Do you wanna go shopping June? I kind of need a couple of things."

"Sure, I need new clothes anyways. Everything I had is old stuff."

"Great!"

She dashed into the house getting ready. I looked down at my phone to see if I have gotten any tweets or texts from my manager. Instead I see a text from Mikey.

June I'm so so so sorry for doing what I did back there. I'm out driving to Ashton's place, I needed some space. If you could ever forgive me, or at least I hope you do..~Mikey

I didn't reply to him, I didn't want to. I wanted to have some fun with Nicole.