The Arrangement

Chapter 4

I wake up in my bed. I know I’m not alone. I glance at my clock, its 3 am. Michael is sleeping peacefully beside me; I get up as quietly as I can, knowing full well he carried me to bed. It’s embarrassing. I head for the bathroom and take my clothes off, I pull a t-shirt on. I feel much more comfortable in my version on PJ’s. I tiptoe back to bed, as I get in, he stirs. I freeze; he doesn’t seem to be awake. I breathe a quite sigh of relief and I lie back down. This feels so strange but I allow myself to drift off to sleep.

I’m up by six, I shower and get dressed, and I sit by breakfast nook sipping my coffee. I hear Michael in the bedroom, a few minutes later he finds me.

“Good morning.” He says smiling. I have to admit he looks even more gorgeous with messy hair.

“Morning. Sleep well?” I ask. Chit chat is not my strong suite. What do I even say to him? Thank you for carrying me to bed like a child.

“Your bed is amazing.” He says stretching. I flush. Why is this having such an effect on me?

“What would you like for breakfast?” I ask because I need to focus on something else, anything else.

“Whatever is available? I’m not fussy.”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, “Well I enjoy stuffing my face so I have something of everything.”

“You must work out a lot then because you are in great shape.” He says, his eyes skimming over my body. I fight the impulse to throw my hands over myself.

“I don’t like the gym.” I say crinkling my nose. I open the fridge and start packing out the eggs and bacon.

“Would never have guessed that you were single? Wouldn’t be surprised if they were all lining up for your attention.”

“They’re out back.” I say, closing the fridge.

He laughs. Oh my, he looks good when he laughs. I breathe in. “Yeah that’s what I thought.” He chuckles.

“No, seriously there is no one. I don’t need a man to feel like someone.”

He blushes. “Not what I meant only imagined that you’d have someone.”

I wonder if I should tell him that I have not been attracted to anyone. Or that I don’t want to get hurt. How can I make anyone understand how I feel? I don’t want to love someone and then they might leave me. My heart can’t handle that.

“Sorry I shouldn’t have said anything.” Michael says as I start on the bacon.

“No, it’s fine. It’s just not easy for me to talk about this. I’m scared of losing another person I love.”

“After your parents.” He says softly.

I nod, “They died in a car accident. I don’t know if you know.”

“I know more about you than you think.” He says I look at him surprised; his eyes widen for a moment then he throws his hands up, “Wow that sounded so creepy.” He says and I start laughing.

“Your mother?” I ask lifting a brow. I know Sarah; I’m not surprised she has talked to him about me. She’s talked to me about him too.

“You know how she is.”  He shrugs apologetically.

“I do.” I reply, taking a plate from the cupboard.

“Truth is I use to have a crush on you when we were kids.” Michael says then I think he is surprised that he said it out loud.

“Really?” This is news to me, he use to ignore me when we were kids. He did kiss me once but it was a part of game.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t do anything, I mean you were fifteen or sixteen and I was twenty. It wouldn’t have been right not to mention your dad would have kicked my ass if he knew.” Michael grins. But you did do something you kissed me. Maybe he forgot. He probably did. I giggle, my dad was a teddy bear but no one should mess with his baby girl. I shift on my other foot, slightly uncomfortable. I snap myself back to reality. Had. As in past tense. Meaning not anymore.

“I should go and get ready.” He says.

“You’re breakfast will be ready in the thirty minutes.” I say. Happy about the change of topic.

“Thank you mam.” He grins and bows forward while rolling his hand in front of his stomach. I can’t help but laugh.

Michael strolls off to the shower and my mind drifts to that night when he kissed me, it was years ago. My friend, Stacey and I went to a party. Stacey ditched me to go off with some guy she met a second before. I felt so out of place standing in the middle of floor. They were all older than me and I remember some of the guys made me really uncomfortable, they were too close and I didn’t want them that close. I finally made it outside, and then I spotted Michael. He was surrounded by a few girls smiling and he seemed to enjoy the attention he was getting. He looked up and saw me, alarm flashed over his face. He excused himself and made he’s way over to me.

“What are you doing here?” He asked, sounding a bit angry.

“Came for the party?” I tell him.

“Are you here alone?”

“No. I came with my friend Stacey.”  Yes I have a friend, she ditched me but she’s a friend. At least that is what I thought before we came here.

“Where is she then?”

“In there somewhere.” I reply, waving my hand in the direction of the house.

“Your dad is going to be pissed when he finds out you sneaked out to go to a party.”

“Don’t worry about me.” I roll my eyes at him, besides my dad knows where I am, in fact he encouraged me to come.

“Are you serious? These guys are all older than you. I don’t want you to stay here.”

“You won’t have to see me.” I say turning to leave, he doesn’t own the world. It’s not like I’m going to embarrass him, no one here even knows that we know each other.

“Wait. I just don’t want you to get in any trouble.” He says.

“I can take care of myself.” I snap turning on my heel and heading for the door.

He followed me back into the house, I was irritated with him. I tried to dodge him and opened a door, where I found Stacey in bed with a guy, I shut the door immediately and turned around to go another way, I walked right into Michael and he grabbed me by my waist, his touch instantly sent electricity through my entire body. “I’m sorry. Don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you. Go back to your friends.” I say. I am mad at him. I’m seventeen and I can go out if I want to.

“Let me help you find your friend.” He pleads.

“I know where she is.” I say matter of fact; she is at this very moment on top of someone.

“Then at least let me keep you company, I’ll feel better if I know you are safe.”

“Fine.” I say frustrated with his big brother attitude.

He lead me to the front of the house, there is no one around. Peace and quiet. “Thought you might like it more here.”

“It’s nice here.” I say, quietly, I’m more comfortable away from the crowd. How did he know?

“Why would you even come to a party? You don’t seem the type.”

“Don’t pretend you know me.” I scold. He is right of course but I don’t want to give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

“I’ve known you for years.”

“Maybe only by our parents it’s not like we’re friends.” Why am I so angry at him? It’s because he thinks of me like a child to be protected but I’m not I’m almost a woman and I can handle unwanted attention from the male variety. My dad taught me how to defend myself.

“It would be dangerous for me to be around you.”

“Why?” I ask. I don’t understand what he is saying.

“You don’t get it, you’re different. It would be so easy.”

“What are you talking about?” I’m frustrated with him. I don’t know what he is saying or what he is doing around me now. Here.

“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

“Are you high?” I have to know. This is the most we’ve spoken that I can remember.

“You think so little of me?” He asks putting his hand on his chest. Smirking.

“I don’t know you. You are always ignoring me.” I blurt out.

“Didn’t know you cared.” He said arching his brow.

“I have to go.” Before I get the wrong idea and think he likes me.

“I freaked you out, didn’t I?”

“No.” I lie then add, “Go back to your friends; you know the ones that are age appropriate.” I don’t know what is happening and it scares me. He is trying to tell me something but I can’t make out what.

He grabs me by my arm as I try to storm off and pulls me against him. My knees started shaking. I think he is going to kiss me but he doesn’t, we just stand there, with me in his arms.

“Guys! Come on we’re playing spin the bottle!” A girl calls from the door, she is jumping from excitement. What the hell is spin the bottle? I wondered vaguely, I’m distracted by the shortness of her skirt. I look back at Michael, he is shaking his head. Well it’s not his choice I pull myself free from his grip and march up to the girl, she giggles and lock arms with me and I walk with her not sure what I’m letting myself in for. We walk into a room, where there is a bunch of people already sitting in a circle they shift to make space for us. “My name is Kelly” She whispers leaning over. “Jennifer.” I reply.

“Have you ever played before?” Kelly asks me. I shake my head. “You’re going to have so much fun.” She winks.

Michael strolls in and sits down opposite me. Dammit. Why can’t he just leave me alone?

“Okay looks like we have enough people here now. Let’s play.” A guy says wearing a green and gold sports jacket. He looks over to me and grins. I shudder. No way. This was a bad idea.

“Chris. You go first.” Kelly urges next to me. He takes the empty bottle and spins it, it lands on her and I’m relieved it’s not me. “Truth or dare?” Chris grins.

“Truth.” She says confidently.

“Okay, out of all the guys here, who would you be more likely to have s*x with?” Chris asks.

“You of course.” She grins and picks up the bottle. She spins and it lands on Michael.

“Truth or dare?” She asks.

“Truth.” He says, glancing over at me.

Kelly puts her finger on her temple and taps thinking I assume on what to ask him, finally she asks, “How many girls have you slept with?”

Michael clears his throat, it doesn’t look like he wants to answer, and he shrugs and replies, “Two.”

Not sure what to make of his answer. He is older than I am so obviously he would have done more than I have. Strangely I’m a little upset by his answer. I don’t think I’m going to like this game. What if I’m asked the same question?

“Are you serious bro? Why so low I can think of twenty girls that would jump your bones right here.” Chris says slapping his hands down on his knees. What? Twenty more? Get over it Jennifer it’s never going to happen with you. You heard him you’re too young for him and besides why would he even go for you when he has so many other choices.

Michael glares at him and spins the bottle, it lands on the girl sitting next to him, and she is overjoyed.

“Truth or dare?” He asks.

“Dare.” She says clapping her hands together.

“Okay, I dare you to jump up and down and cluck like a chicken.” Michael says.

She looks disappointed but complies. Maybe this won’t be so bad. Kelly giggles at the sight of her and so do I. The girl spins and the bottle lands on Chris.

“Don’t even ask baby, dare me.” He says.

“I dare you to take Kelly’s bra off.” She says. Why am I here? I should leave, Michael was right they are older than I am. They’ve all had more experience than me in so many things.

Chris stands up as does Kelly, he puts his hand underneath her shirt and removes he bra. Michael watches me and I’m feeling super uncomfortable trying hard not to make eye contact with him, Chris takes his seat putting Kelly’s bra on his lap and then spins, it lands on Michael.

“Dare.” Michael says.

“I dare you to take the new girl and make out with her in that closet. You can’t leave until you have.” Chris says nodding in my direction.

Michael shakes his head as I get up. He looks up at me in surprise. I feel strange and embarrassed standing up while he is sitting down, he gets up too, I’m grateful and we go into the closet and he closes the door behind us.

“We’ll stay in here for a few minutes and just tell them we did.” Michael whispers.

“You don’t want to kiss me?” I’m strangely offended that he doesn’t want to kiss me.  

“Do you want me to?” He asks. It’s dark and I can’t see his face. Probably a good thing because I’m confident I’m blushing.

“Maybe.” I say softly. He inhales sharply and then finds my hand in the dark and pulls me closer, he puts his hands on either side of my face and leans in closer and kisses me lightly on the lips. Sparks shoot through my entire body. I put my arms around his neck and we continue the kiss.

“What are you thinking about?” Michael asks next to me, snapping me out of my head.

“Nothing.” I stutter almost knocking the pan off the stove. I’m sure I look guilty as sin, standing here daydreaming about him kissing me. I can’t manage to look at him.

“Smells divine.” He says as I dish up. I walk over to him and place the plate in front of him and he digs in. I retrieve a spare key for the house and I put it down next to him, “Thought this might come in handy.”

“Ah, the keys to the castle.” He winks.

I shake my head and smile. Why on earth would Lilly betray him like she did?