Raelynn
Michael smiled. “You look nice today, Allison.”
I watched my best friend blush. “Thanks, Michael. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
“Is that a new shirt? I don’t think I’ve seen it before.”
“Nah, it’s just been a while since I’ve worn it.”
“Well, you should wear it more often. It really suits you. That color and everything.”
I watched the way Allison smiled up at Michael. I saw the way he gazed down at her. I snickered to myself in the backseat, but the two of them didn’t seem to hear me. Like we’d done for a while now, the three of us were in front of Clint’s house. Picking him up for school. Even though he got stronger by the second, he still didn’t have a set of wheels to get himself to and from campus. And by his words, he’d rather ‘drop off that damn bridge again than ride a bus.’
Needless to say, he only cracked that joke once before I got on him about it.
I saw Michael go for Allison’s hand again and I silently cheered him on. Allison was terrible about moving while Michael was making a move on her. I’d watched her do it twice this morning. I felt so bad for the guy! Because I knew she wasn’t doing it on purpose. And when he finally got her hand within his, I mentally tossed my hands into the air. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it because I didn’t want them to feel self conscious. Allison had always been easily embarrassed, and if Michael thought—for one second—he had embarrassed her, he’d stop everything he was doing immediately.
And none of us wanted that.
I watched their fingers intertwine before my gaze wandered out the window. I watched their reflection as the two of them talked softly amongst themselves. I liked the two of them together. They were cute. In my eyes, they were made for one another. But that kind of shit was also subjective. I tried to give them all the privacy I could afford. You know, with me being in the backseat and things like that.
Come on, Clint. We’re gonna be late.
I pulled my phone out and looked at the time. We’d pulled into his driveway ten minutes ago, and part of me was growing worried. Had he hurt himself again? Was something wrong? I looked around at the windows upstairs, clocking his bedroom window. I didn’t see the curtains fluttering. Nor did I see shadows passing by. The light was on, but no one was walking around. So he was obviously up.
Maybe I should send him another text.
I sent off my third text that morning, reminding him that we were outside. And if we didn’t get a move on, we’d be late for class. I peeked back over at Michael and Allison, watching as they continued to smile and talk and gaze into one another’s eyes. Allison had curled up into the passenger seat of the car, turning herself to face him completely. And Michael? Well, he was leaning well over the arm of his seat. Getting as close to Allison as he could before she pulled away from him.
Such an adorable couple.
A movement out from the corner of my eye caught my attention and I whipped my head back toward the window. My heart sang with delight as Clint walked out, his bag slung over his shoulder. But something was off about his movements. His eyes were downcast. He lumbered slower than usual. He wasn’t walking with the same sort of confidence I usually saw in him, and I wondered what had happened.
Is his father home?
Michael cleared his throat. “Is Clint okay?”
Allison sighed. “So I’m not the only one that noticed. Good.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know. Don’t say anything, okay?”
Michael nodded. “I had no intentions of it. He’s been through enough lately. If he wants to talk, we’re here.”
Allison backed him up. “Uh huh. And if he doesn’t want to talk, we’re still going to be here.”
I threw open the car door. “Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.”
I helped Clint into the car beside me, and not once did he look at me. He closed the door and flopped down next to me, sitting his bag between his legs. I ran my hand up and down this thigh and squeezed his knee softly, trying to get him to look at me. But even from behind his sunglasses, I saw him staring blankly out the window.
With his head turned away from me.
“Morning.”
I said it as softly and evenly as I could. So the worry wasn’t prevalent in my voice. But all he did was nod.
Michael looked at him in the rearview mirror. “How’d you sleep?”
Clint shrugged. “As good as I could.”