CHAPTER THREE
1312 Words
Michael’s POV
“Baby, look. I won this round.”
Green shoved my phone in my face like an excited kid, eyes all bright and proud. Yeah.. I named him Green because of his eyes and because I couldn’t keep calling him “that guy” in my head forever.
“You did good.” I said, smiling a little and patting his head without thinking.
Big mistake.
He leaned into it rubbing his head against my hand.
I froze.
This cannot actually be my life.
“Can you finish it later?” I asked, trying to get my phone back. “I need you to try these on.”
We were at a small store nearby. I grabbed a cap and sunglasses earlier because—yeah, no way I’m letting him walk around looking like that. Too noticeable. Too… everything.
“For me?” He asked, eyes lighting up again as he took them.
“Yes. A gift. For being a good boy.” I said, before I could stop myself.
Why did I say that?
He didn’t question it though. Just put them on and turned to the mirror.
“I look cool.”
“You do.” I said, and okay, yeah, he actually did. Annoyingly so.
I turned to the cashier to ask for the price, but she was just.. staring at him. I snapped my fingers. “Hello?”
She blinked like she’d just come back to earth.
After paying, I dragged him out and headed straight to the police station.
Bad idea.
The entire time, he wouldn’t let go of my hand. Like if I moved an inch, he was right there. When we got inside, he actually hissed at the officers.
“Yes, sir? Here to file a complaint?” The officer at the desk asked.
“No, I—” I gestured at Green. “This guy is..”
I stopped.
Because I looked up and there he was.
The man from last night.
Standing inside one of the glass offices, holding a mug and a bagel and talking o two officers like he owned the place.
I squinted at the name on the door.
CHIEF ADAM WALKER.
My stomach dropped and my hand moved on its own, pulling out the card he gave me, it was not NYPD.
SPIDER LILY.
What the hell is that?
“Sir?” The officer called again.
I blinked, shoving the card back into my pocket. “You know what? Never mind. I’ll.. figure it out.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
I grabbed Green’s hand. “Come on.”
We left fast. Like, really fast.
His fingers tightened around mine. “Baby, are you okay?”
“No.” I said, honestly. My chest felt tight. He frowned and touched my face again. “Why?”
I opened my mouth then closed it.
What am I even supposed to say?
Hey, the guy hunting you is literally the chief of police?
Yeah, no.
What did you get yourself into?
~
I figured that man, Adam, might start asking questions. Maybe even come looking. School wasn’t safe, but it was the only place I could think of. So I snuck Green into an empty biology classroom.
Luckily, the class had just ended.
“Why are you being naughty, baby?” He whispered, looking around. “The classroom is empty.”
“Shh.” I said quickly. “No one should know we’re here.”
I barely took a step before—
He grabbed my arm and pulled me back.
And then—
He kissed me.
This asshole kissed me.
I gasped into his mouth and he just.. swallowed it. Green kissed like he already knew what he was doing. Like he’d done this a thousand times. Slow but not really, like he was holding back but also not at all.
I just stood there.
Didn’t move nor did I kiss back. Didn’t even know what to do with my hands.
My brain was just blank.
“No..” I mumbled against his lips, but it came out weak.
“Use your tongue, baby.” He said.
“I—I don’t know how to kiss.” I said quickly, pulling back, breath uneven.
My first kiss.
Gone. Just like that.
“Okay.” He said, like I’d just told him something minor. “I’ll teach you later.”
Excuse me?
“What the hell are you doing?!”
I froze. Oh no.
I turned slowly just to see Diane standing there and watching. Her eyes moved from me.. to Green.. then back to me the her mouth dropped open.
“Michael Dante.” She said slowly. “..hooking up in an empty classroom? I never thought I’d see the day.”
I opened my mouth but nothing came out. Before I could even try, Green moved fast and pulled me behind him.
What the hell was he doing?
“And who are you?” He asked, fists clenched like he was ready to fight her.
Diane blinked. “Uh.. Diane.” She held out her hand.
He didn’t take it.
At all.
She looked at me instead. “Who’s the lucky guy?”
“He’s uh he’s a friend.” I said, forcing out a laugh that sounded fake even to me. “Diane, this is Green. Green, Diane. My friend.”
“Your friend?” Green repeated, like he didn’t believe it.
“Yeah.” I said, reaching for him carefully. “She’s.. she’s fine.”
He studied her for a second, then just—smiled.
“Anything for you, Mikey.” He said, like that settled it, and pulled me back into his arms. Diane’s jaw dropped again.
“Okay.” She said slowly. “What just happened?”
“You tell me.” I muttered into his chest because honestly, I had no idea anymore. “Mike..” she whispered, eyes wide. “You have a boyfriend.”
I pulled back, but Green didn’t let go. Of course he didn’t.
“It’s not like that.” I said quickly. “It’s—just.. it’s a long story.”
And somehow.. I ended up telling her, not everything. Just… most of it. Definitely not the part about that man.
“Wait.” Diane said, lowering her voice. “Green isn’t even his real name?”
“No.”
“And he doesn’t remember anything?”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Holy shit.” She whispered.
“Yeah.” I sighed.
“I mean.. this is bad.” She said. “We need to fix this. Like, get his memory back or something.”
“Don’t you think I know that?” I whispered back, a little sharper than I meant. “He can’t keep following me everywhere.”
Diane dragged a hand through her hair. “Okay. Okay. Did you try taking him to the police?”
I stiffened for a second.
“Yeah.” I said quickly. “Useless.” Which.. wasn’t even a lie.
“So what’s the plan?” She asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe we find someone who knows him? Friends? Family?” I said, glancing at Green. “Someone should take him.”
His arms tightened around me immediately. “No.”
Diane and I both looked at him.
“No?”
“Don’t send me away.” He said, shaking his head.
“We’re not—” I started, placing a hand on his arm. “We’re not sending you away.”
“We just want to call someone who knows you.” Diane added gently.
“I don’t have anyone.” He said, holding onto me like that was the only thing keeping him steady. “I’m staying with Mikey.”
I closed my eyes for a second.
Yeah.
This just got worse.
- Writer
