Michael grumbled, “I’m gonna bury that fucker.”
Allison sighed. “You’re making me break a sweat. Can’t you tuck it in?”
I giggled. “You’re going to be in deep shit if you’re caught. Why don’t we get this sleepover started early?”
With our backpacks practically hanging off our bodies, we dashed across the front lawn of the schoolyard. Michael had Allison’s hand tightly in his, and I brought up the rear. Just in case anyone else tried coming after us. The last thing we needed was to deal with the fallout from this bullshit drama. Because as far as I was concerned? Clint could take the brunt of it all. By himself. Since he was the asshole that started it in the first place.
But I had to work not to give him the satisfaction of looking back.
I don’t know why I wanted to look back and check on him, but I fought that urge. He didn't deserve someone making sure he was all right like that. We rushed across the street just before the schoolyard bell tolled, signaling the beginning of the day.
The day we’d all skip in order to get this party started.
We didn’t stop running until we got to Allison’s house. She pulled out her keys, and Michael’s hand instinctively fell to the small of her back. I smiled at their connection. At how this had somehow bonded them. And since Allison wasn’t brushing him off, I figured that was as good a sign as any.
That Allison returned Michael’s affections.
We all walked inside and I stood there, marveling at the grandeur of Allison’s home. It never ceased to amaze me. I slowly closed the front door behind me, taking in the beautiful staircase. The wooden banisters that glistened in the sunlight streaming through the multiple windows of the home. The hardwood floors that matched those banisters, covered intricately with plush rugs that
sat underneath cushioned, comfy furniture. No matter how many times I went over to Allison’s or Michael’s homes, I was always amazed at how they looked. Large, with vaulted ceilings. Beautiful stainless steel appliances that always looked brand new every time I came over. Massive flatscreen televisions mounted on walls and expansive decorations that added a classy sort of flair to the entire place.
I sighed. “Wow.”
“I’m going to grab some things to bring down into the basement. Rae, can you take Michael down there?”
Allison’s voice ripped me from my trance and I nodded.
“Yep. Come on, Michael. Let’s go get you cleaned up. You look like hell.”
He snickered. “I feel like it.”
I shrugged. “That’s what you get for trying to take on Clint Clarke first thing in the morning.”
While Allison rummaged around in the kitchen, I took Michael’s hand. I led him down into the basement, where I clicked the light on, illuminating the beautiful expanse of one of the most perfect spaces I’d ever seen. It was practically its own apartment down here, complete with a little kitchenette area, a mounted flatscreen television, every single streaming service known to man loaded on the smart television, and bedrooms as far as the eye could see. There were bookshelves lining the walls, filled with books I wanted to read. The plush microfiber furniture was broken up with bean bags we always flopped onto when coming downstairs. The soft carpet underneath my feet caused me to toe off my shoes, just so I could feel the material tickle my toes.
But, when Michael sat down with a grunt, it pulled me back to reality again.
“I’ll be right back. We need to get you cleaned up,” I said.
Michael sighed. “I don’t plan on moving until lunch.”
I giggled as I walked into the bathroom. I fished out the first aid kit from underneath the sink, then walked back into the main room. I sat down by Michael before I opened the kit, preparing myself to clean him up. He had caked blood on his nose and a scrape just above his left eye. Not to mention the massive amount of spit he had dripping down his neck. I ripped open an alcohol wipe and gripped his chin softly. I turned his face toward me, tilting his head in order to clean him a little better.
Then I gave him a knowing smile. “For the record, I’m never going to forget that you leapt to defend Allison’s honor instead of mine.”
Michael’s eyes widened. “Rae, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean t—”
I shook my head. “It’s fine, Michael. It’s all right. I know you like her.”
He paused. “Is it that obvious?”
“Oh, yeah. Very. But she’s doing a good job hiding the fact that she likes that you went to bat for her. Against Clint, of all people.”
“You don’t think she’s upset with me?”
“Did you see the way she let you take her hand? The way she let you usher her into her own house? Come on, Michael. You’re not that dumb.”
He hissed. “That hurt. Ah.”