“If you even think of coming in, I’ll call the cops on you.” Alyssa threatened. Bitch. I never liked her. She always acted too fake and never let anyone speak at the dinner table, not that she even ate, she was totally anorexic. Bitch, I thought again as Michaela bawled. Alyssa threw her bag at her and then shut the door, no doubt locking it as well. I felt bad as I watched her cry. It felt like she cried for hours, eventually she went to one of the lawn chairs and cried herself to sleep. I went inside and brought out a blanket. November was pretty cold, especially at night, and I didn’t want her to get sick. I quietly walked into their backyard and put the blanket over her, it wasn’t very big but it was better than nothing. Wet tears still lay on her damp cheeks, ever-so-gently I slowly wiped them off.
“Goodnight Mick,” I whispered before kissing her forehead, like I used to and then left to go back inside. I wanted to lie in the chair beside her but that would probably freak her out.
The next morning, I woke up and looked out my window. Mick was already gone and our blanket as well: I found it later on the chair in our porch when I was leaving, folded up perfectly. Some old habits die hard, Mick always gave things back in perfect condition or better.
When I got into English, Michaela was seated like nothing was wrong and she hadn’t been kicked out the night before. The only evidence was her glassy, red-rimmed eyes and missing smile. Her hair was pulled up high in a bun and she wore the same jeans as the day before but the top was obviously borrowed because it was too tight in the chest and too big and long everywhere else. When she saw me, she gave me a small smile. I did a double-take. It felt good to get a smile from her, no it felt much, much better than good.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Oh, for the blanket, I shrugged and smiled back.
“Anytime Mouse.” I hadn’t called her that in forever but it made her smile more, making me feel even better. I used to call her Mouse sometimes, as in Mickey Mouse. Mom’s words echoed in my head; “It’s always worth the risk. I’d never take it back,” she had said and so with that advice, I decided to take a chance.
“From now on you don’t need to work with your partners but if you still want to, you can.” Mrs. Becker told the class. I looked at Mickey who was looking right back at me questioningly, raising one brow.
“Should I go first?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t reject me and say she would rather work alone or something worse. She nodded and took out her pencil.
“Hate,” she said picking the word from my list and with that I took my chance.
“Well at first it was you, but then I realized it was Gert, Tiffany and all of them. Oh and June but really the person I hate, is myself. I was stupid and I ruined the most important thing I had, and I pay for it every day. I am so sorry, Michaela. Because the truth is, I love you. More than anything and not being with you hurts. And like I keep saying, you’re still the same person to me and your new look can’t change that and I am as much in love with you, as I was when we first met and when you first kissed me when I gave you that bracelet,” I said and watched the tears begin to run down her cheeks. I didn’t wait for her to speak, instead I pulled out the bracelet that I’d been carrying around for the past two days and put it on her wrist. She played with one of the beads, the fuchsia one, she always played with that one.
“Prove it,” she finally spoke. How? I didn’t ask, instead I just acted on instinct. I stood up and then took a deep breath of air.
“Everyone,” I said loudly, getting all their attention. Shit, I hated this much attention. I felt like I was going to pass out, I got hot and my hands started to sweat and I felt dizzy but when I looked into Mickey’s amazing blue brown eyes, I knew I could do it. She gave me the courage. “I am in love with Michaela Chance Lesage.” Everyone stared at me open mouthed except Mickey. She just waited, knowing I wasn’t finished yet. “I have loved her forever, since we first met when we were five. I made up lies and spread rumours about her that were all fake. When really, I was, I am, obsessed with her. So now you all know my secret,” I said, still looking at Mickey. I don’t know where what I did next came from, but it came from somewhere deep in me because next thing I knew, I was cupping her face and kissing her. She kissed me back but then pulled away. Shit.
“Michaela, James, outside now.” Mrs. Becker said sharply, sounding very shocked. Double shit. We both got up and walked to the door, I quickly grabbed her hand and held it tight. I was afraid she’d pull away but she didn’t, instead she squeezed my hand back and kept it. “James, didn’t I tell you, that I wouldn’t have you interrupting my class,” Mrs. Becker scolded. I nodded, still
