I slugged through my classes knowing that after they are done I only had an hour to say goodbye to Connor and Michael. Even Ms. Flynn said that she would miss me. Michael could hardly control his laughter. Every class I had people keep looking at me, maybe jealous, probably not, this was like heaven to some of them. When the bell to my eighth hour rang I went to my usual spot to wait for Michael. Who was already there? He stood up. "I am a great liar." He said with a smile. "How so?" He looked at me "Well for one I'm smiling like I'm happy, and two Im here and not in class." I frowned at him. I hated making others upset. He grabbed my arm and dragged me back to my half packed room.
It was almost time for me to go home. I have spent the rest of the day packing, and being with Connor and Michael. Connor left a little while ago, secretly I think Michael asked him to. I don't mind though, its nice to get to say goodbye to Michael, and just Michael. As much as im goint to miss Connor, Michael has been with me for the past two years. HE has been here through everythig. And no mater how much I like Connor, I havent known him as long. Plus I do think that I will talk to Connor more after I leave. "so what if I did something really bad when I got home and then I could come back?" Michael laughed relieving some tension that had built up. "Maybe. But that doesn't seem like the Rosie I know. Also we tried that, remember? It didn't work. " I smiled. I was going to miss being called Rosie. If anyone else tried to call me Rosie it just wouldn't be the same, and I wouldn't allow it.
When all my boxes were packed I just stared at them for a second. This became a life that I never knew would be a good one. When I first got here I was terrified of everyone. Even if they were just the kids who always got detention and hung out with the wrong people. Nobody here was really all that bad. And I made a place for myself, I made friends. Now I have to leave. My nostalgia was enough to make me want to pass out. Michael grabbed my elbow and held me up. "Its okay Rosie, I swear you will be fine." He looked at me and I held his gaze. "That's it I cant do this." I said and I marched out of my room.
I walked until I realized with the help of Michael's incessant asking that I had no clue where I was going, nor what I was doing. I sat down staring at my feet. "come on Rose stand up." Michael grabbed my hand pulling me from the ground. ""You want to go home, you know you do. Don't let Connor and I hold u back." His eyes were sad but his voice firm. He was right, I know, but there was a part of me that knew he wasn't fully right. They weren't holding me back. I was holding myself back. I tried to tell myself it would be okay, but I knew I waas lying. It seems that the person we lie to most, is often ourselves.And right now I was okay with that.
I sat with Michael for another hour before somebody came and said my parents were here. I almost threw up, but Michael grabbed me and made me look at him; we both had tears dried to our faces and still forming in our eyes. "Call me as soon as you get home, okay?" His voicde cracked from trying to choke back sobs. All I could do was nod or I would be a mess. When I got to the door Connor was talking to my mom. When she saw mme she ran to hug me, but before she did she noticed me crying. "Whats wrong? Arent you hppy to be leaving?" I did some sort of neck exercise trying to decided between yes an no. "I am, Im so ready to go home, but my friends." I stopped not sure she would understand. She nodded "You've got some good friends here." I could tell it killed her to say so but then she smiled. My dad came through the door looking angry, but then he saw me and his expression softened. "Rose" he came and hugged me. Before letting go he whispered "Who are these boys?" I laughed then introduced Michael and Connor. I didn't know what to do now that it was time to go. I wanted so badly to go back to my old life, but the question was could I.
After practically pryin me off of Michael, Connor and I said our goodbyes. The my parents had to pry Michael and I apart, only for me to go back to connor. My mom finally got impatient and pulled me to the car.Even after I got into the car I had to wait for my parents to finsih packing it. When they got in the car I turned around and watched Michael as I drove away. He sat on the ground and put his head in his hands, finally able to cry. And I could physically feel my heart break into a thousand tiny glass pieces and hit my stomach like a thousand tiny rocks.
* * *
When I got home I was surprised to see that absolutely nothing had changed. Well, except me. It had been two years since I've been home. I hadn't realized just how much I missed it. I went straight up to my room, which was huge, and grabbed a phone. I dialed the number for the office and heard the secretary pick up. It took 3 hours to get to my house so I hoped michael hadnt forgotten about me calling. "Hi its Rose, I just left but can I speak to Michael..." before I could finish the phone was being passed around. "Rosie?!" Michaels frantic voice made my stomach hurt. "Yes Michael." I was trying to stay calm. "Oh thank god you are safe. I knew you lived far but that felt like ages! How are the folks now that you're back?" I laughed. I hadn't talked to them much, which is just what I told michael. "Rosie, I love you now go talk to your parents.." Click buzz the line was dead.
Ii didn want to talk to my parents. I wanted to talk to michael and Connor. I mentally slapped myself, I needed to call him too. I was really bad at this whole girlfriend thing. So I decided to call Connor. "Hi baby." He picked up and the feeling of melting returned. He had called me baby. "Hi." I managed to say "Did you call Michael yet? He's been crying and pacing since you left." The burn of tears returned in my eyes. "yeah I did he said he was happy to hear I was safe and said I needed to go talk to my parents. But I wanna talk to you." I said softly. It was only partially true. Not that I didn't want to talk to him but how Michael just hung up left a pang in my chest. "Im glad but Michael is kind of right." My heart fell. "You don't wanna end up back here." I wanted to scream at him. That I wanted to be there because that's where he was snd that's where my best friend was. But I couldn't say that. That place was supposed to be like hell to me. The only thing is, it was like hell. When you meet the right people they can take that hell and make it a paradise. I wouldn't trade the past two years for anything. When I didn't reply for a while he spoke up. "Not that I don't want to talk to you, I definitely do, Micahel isnt the only one that's upset about this.I would just never let you see me upset. Its just-never mind I'm sorry. So whats it like to be back home?" I sighed "Different, for the past two years ive pictured coming back, but its weird to actually be back." I could feel him pressing his lips trying to think of what to say. He started to talk but I never found out what he was thinking. I heard Michael in the back and then the call ended. Before I could even fathom what that meant, my mom came upstairs and told me that she was calling a 'family meeting'. Great, because that's what I want.
"We feel that now that you are back you should spend time with normal people." My mother finished. They way she used the word normal stung. When I didn't say anything she continued, "so that means no more talking to those two boys, Corner and Mitchell." I shot out of my seat ready to defend them and or just leave , but my dad started to laugh. "I don't think those were their names Hun." I relaxed a little. My mom thought everything she did was right and anyone else was wrong. Even if they were doing the same thing she was, they were doing it wrong. So it only fit that Connor and Michael werent good enough for her. My dad on the other hand was more laid back, a hard worker sure, but at home he didn't care so much. That's how I wanted to be, serious in the right times and not everywhere else. "No." I told my mom. "What do you mean no?" I looked at her dumbfounded. How was she not understanding this. "I mean not going to happen. I will talk to whoever I want. And just because they arent who you would have me hang around doesn't mean they aren't normal. I threw that back at her. She can be such a bitch sometimes. My parents just stared at me, my dad with a slight smile tugging at his lips. Then my mom held out her hand. Being who I am I gave her a high-five and tried to walk away. She caught me by the wrist "Phone." I handed it to her, like I need it. She released her grip on my wrist and I stomped upstairs hoping to piss her off just a bit more. I slammed my door for a final bit of dramatic effect.
I had wanted to go home ever since I got to that damn place, and all I want now is to go back. My life is just one big ironic circle. I laid on my bed starring at the ceiling for what felt like the rest of the day. My dad came up at around four- thirty. "dinners done." Then he handed me my phone. "hide it. Try not to let your mom see, and by the way I thought those boys were very nice. Except the one who claimed to be your 'boyfriend'." He chuckled and I slipped the phone into my sock drawer. "Thank you." I sighed and headed down for dinner with my mother.
It didn't take long before she was asking questions about my time at Lincoln juvenile correction school. My answers were short and sweet unil she started asking about Michael. "Well I met him within my first week there. I was scared and didn't know where anything was, and I obviously wasn't going to ask anyone for help. But one day in art this blonde kid runs into me and spills paint on my shoes, luckkily only my shoes too. He apologized a thousand times before I helped him clean up and he introduced himself. Then after that we kind of just becme friends." I told her. She nodded. "Well he seems..." She stopped and I saw my dad look over at her before she finished. "Nice." Was all she said. Then of course Dad had to bring up Connor. "So when did you start dating that boy?" I looked down hoping they couldn't see the blush that appeared on my face at the sound of his name. "Well, Michael and I were in a fight. He was in a really bad spot in his life, and he wouldn't let me help. So I decided to clear my mind and take a walk..." I told them all about the first time I spoke to connor, and our first date. I struggled to keep my voice steady and my tears back. Whenever I finished rambling about him my mothers face contorted. She wasn't sure wether or not to be upset (She totally was and she knew it), or disgusted that I could feel like this about a boy she didn't approve of. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked her after a few awkward moments of silence. "Im simply trying to figure something out in my head." What was there to figure out? My story surely wasn't confusing. "What are you trying to figure out." She smiled and looked at my father. "Its nothing, just me."
* * *
After dinner I went up to my rooom, as per usual. But my parents didn't leave the table. Normally they went their separate ways too. Before I got uo I heard their muffled voices, so I decided to listen. I closed my door, but I stayed on the steps.
"Something is going on with that Michael." My mother whispered. I heard a sigh. Most likely my fathers. "I saw how he looked at her, Connor, Michael is the least of your worries." What are they talking about? Looking at me? "Just ok. Im not wrong here. You always think I'm wrong! But I'm not, not with this." I heard chairs scoot and took that as my cue to leave. I really wish I knew what that was about.
A/n
So heres for friday uploads!!! Get used to cliffhangers because the next chapter is well... no spoilers.
Also thank you sooooooooososo much for 100 reads. It had made me very glad that i didnt keep this story to myself. I hope you all love it just as much as i do!