Page 67 of Don't Leave Me

He shook his head as he gazed at me, his expression totally giving him away: he was hurt.

“Do you not understand that I could possibly feel hurt as well?” he asked, his eyes wide and almost puppy-like.

I suddenly felt like the biggest asshole in the world. I wanted to wrap him in my arms and tell him that I was sorry, could we just forget this all happened, can we just go back to normal?

“I don’t like any of this,” I whispered, shaking my head as I stared up at him.

He knew what I meant. “I don’t either,” he shook his head back.

Suddenly my bedroom door opened and my heart dropped; Jack was putting his coat on and he glared at Michael as he walked out. I looked between him and Michael and I couldn’t move or speak – I was too afraid to do anything.

“I’ll see myself out, Hana,” he glowered at me, moving quickly towards the door and as he walked past Michael, he knocked his shoulder to his.

“That was really fucking uncalled for,” Michael growled, turning to Jack as he walked through the door.

Jack scoffed and laughed. “Fuck off,” he called out, already out the door.

I put my hand to Michael’s shoulder to make sure he didn’t act on his anger; he quickly turned to me, his eyes full of anger and his jaw clenched.

“Hana, what the fuck was he doing here?” he interrogated loudly, fuming.

Billie quickly came out of her bedroom, her eyes wide and concerned as she walked out.

“Hana, is everything okay?” She looked between the two of us, obviously having overheard the commotion.

Michael and I stood there awkwardly as we tried to calm down. I nodded and put on my best face for Billie to assure her I was alright; I knew she was looking out for me.

“Yeah,” I nodded, feeling like I was out of breath as I put my hands on my hips.

She continued to look between us with skepticism; she didn’t seem convinced but she went back in her room and shut the door behind her anyway. I faced Michael again and looked up at him innocently – his anger hadn’t subsided yet; he glared at me and expectantly waited for my answer.

“I was upset. I needed someone to talk to. That’s why he was here, Michael,” I scoffed, my hands still on my hips and feeling oddly courageous.

He rolled his eyes. He didn’t believe me.

“You called Jack, the guy who was sending you flowers only weeks ago, just to have a little chat?” he accused.

He was right to be jealous. Jack and I did a lot more than just talk over the past couple of days, but I’d never admit that to Michael…it would only make things worse.

“Yes,” I answered confidently - but my insides felt like they were dropping to the floor. I hated lying.

Michael looked defeated as he sighed and scratched the side of his growing beard, looking around the living room.

“Can we talk with a bit more privacy?” he asked quietly, quickly glancing at Billie’s door and then back at me.

He probably figured that Billie was on the other side of the door listening intently. I was positive that she was.

“Yeah,” I sighed, walking to my room as he followed along and closed the door behind him.

I leaned against my desk with my arms crossed, waiting for more lecturing from Michael, watching him as he looked down at the floor and started to wring his hands together, looking in deep thought.

“I haven’t been in a serious relationship in a very long time, Hana,” he started, his voice low as he looked up at me through his lashes.

I nodded; I remembered him telling me about being so young and wanting different things with his girlfriend in Belfast before he moved to the states.

“The last time I was in love, I was hurt…badly. It took me a long time to recover. I never wanted to feel that way again,” he explained quietly, walking towards me.

He looked so insanely sad and so insanely beautiful; I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything would be alright.

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