Chapter 2 Summer startup revelations

I run down the stairs as fast as my feet can carry me.

MIKEY! I shout as I pounce into his arms.

I wasnt much of a hugger by Michael was the exception.

MAY! Mikey yells back as he hugs me. Ive missed you so much little sister.

Ive missed you too. I say as I pulled away from the hug.

Come on, come tell me about what Ive missed in your life. Mikey says as he pulls my hand upstairs.

Mikey, I saw you on Christmas. I chuckle lightly.

Yeah but May, that was like 6 months ago. A lot can change in half a year.

Youre right. Well, I have a boyfriend. His names Ian. Ive been seeing him since January. I started.

Is he nice to you? Does he treat you well? Has Dad met him? Does Mum know? Does he push you to do anything? Michael shot all these questions out at me and I couldnt keep up.

Mikey slow down. I giggle.

Michael had always been protective over me.

Sorry, He laughed. I just hate that Im never around to protect you if you need it. He says.

I know, but im a big girl. I can take care of myself you know. And to answer your questions, yes he treats me good, yes Dad has met him and no he doesnt push me to anything.

Okay good. Wait, whats his last name?

Baker, why?

Youre dating Ian Baker? He asks, clearly surprised.

Yeah why? Do you know him? I ask.

He composes himself and shrugs. Uh, no. We used to have mutual friends.

I nod understandingly.

Man May, Ive missed you so much. Michael sighs as he hugs me again.

Me too Mikey. But dont worry, Im here for the whole summer. We'll have plenty of time to spend together." I smile.

"Good. Oh um― I need to talk to you about something." Michael says slowly.

"Yeah..." I question.

"Look, I don't want to be the one to give you this whole speech believe me, but Dad is forcing me to. He said that youve been hanging around Clay and his crew. Why, May? Is it because youre dating Ian? You know the type of guys him and his boys are. He said, putting air quotes on boys.

Clay was sort of the leader of our whole group of friends. He was the one that got everyone the drugs and alcohol, and persuaded everyone to do bad stuff, including Ian. Ian and Clay were best friends, but I figured Mikey already knew that.

Clays changed. I lie. Him and Ian are best friends. Hes gotten a lot nicer now. Hes not the old Clay you used to know.

I was literally lying through my teeth. If anything Clay had gotten worse from when Michael knew him. Michael and Clay were best friends when we all lived in Melbourne, until Clay started hanging out with some bad people. Michael wasnt that type of person so, he stopped hanging around Clay.

May, why are you hanging out with them? What happened to your old friends like Aubrey, Jadyn and Emma? Those were good friends.

I was still best friends with Aubrey but only because she accepted that I hung out with Clay, Ian and their group. Jadyn and Emma wanted nothing to do with them, so we stopped hanging out. Look Mikey, I know youre trying to help but its my life and I can choose to have whoever I want in it. I just got here and I dont want to fight so can we just drop it? God! You sound like Dad! I raise my voice.

Alright im sorry. Just forget I mentioned anything about it. Look, tonight Im going over to my friend Ashtons house. A few of my friends are gonna be there too. Wanna come? Its sort of a summer start up party.

I dont know..I was supposed to call Ian later on and im kinda tired. I say.

After 5 minutes of Michael practically begging me to go with him, I gave in.

Great, be ready by 7. He says as he shut my door.

I figured Id call Ian now so he wouldnt get worried later on. It rang multiple times before going to voice mail. I furrowed my brows. Thats weird. Ian always answers my calls. I called a few more times only to be sent to voice mail again. I decided to just text him.

To Ian: Hey. I dont know why youre not answering my calls but Im going out with my brother tonight so I wont be able to call you later on.

A few minutes passed and my phone buzzed.

From Ian: k

K? K?! He freaking Kd me? I decided to not even reply. He was probably in one of his moods. Every so often Ian would get mad for no apparent reason and be a complete jerk to me. Id learned it was best to steer clear of him while he was like this. I pushed it all out of my mind as I went to get ready for the party.

I put on my short denim shorts and a white crocheted tank top. I straightened my long hair and applied some eye makeup and a bit of concealer. I finished much too early so I just went downstairs to watch TV. After what felt like years of watching One Tree Hill re runs, it was finally 7.

Mikey, are we going? I call from the bottom of the stairs. Michael came flying down the stairs.

Lets go. He says as he gets his keys. We get in the car and begin to drive.

So how many people are going to be there exactly? I ask.

Not that many. Just my closest friends.

We soon pull up to a fairly large house. We get out of the car and go up to the door. I was about to knock but Michael just opened the door.

PARTYS HERE! Michael shouts, causing me to roll my eyes playfully.

A boy approached us laughing at Michaels entrance.

Yeah, the party definitely is here. He says looking at me with a smirk. That made me feel uncomfortable.

Thats my sister you d--k! Michael says, slapping the boy on the back of the head.

S--t man, sorry! The boy says laughing.

Im Ashton. He says with a smile.

May.

Alright well come on in and meet everyone.

I follow Ashton and Michael down to the basement where everyone was.

This is Cora, Luke, Harry and Michael says before I cut him off.

Calum? I ask as I look at the boy sitting on the couch.

It was the same boy I sat beside on the plane.

May? He asks standing up from the couch.

Everyone looked confused by now.

You two know each other? Michael asks.

Yeah kinda. We sat beside each other on the plane ride here from Melbourne. Calum explains.

Small world. I chuckle.

I sit down and begin to talk to everyone. They were all really nice. I couldnt help but notice how attractive they all were. My brother sure knows how to pick hot friends.

I look over at Michael to see him making out with Cora. I raise an eyebrow and look around.

Youll get used to that. A voice says as they sat beside me on the floor.

It was Luke. I had never met him before tonight, but Michael talked about him constantly. They were practically brothers, at least thats what Michael tells me.

I look up at him and immediately took notice of his blue eyes. And lip ring. He was really attractive.

Are they together? I ask him.

They always say they hate each other, but then every time they see each other they cant keep their hands to themselves. Luke chuckles.

I nod, trying to understand how weird my brother was. My phone buzzes but I choose to ignore it.

Youd think hed be embarrassed to make out with some girl right in front of his sister though. I laugh lightly.

My phone buzzes again.

Yeah, youd think. But hey, this is Michael were talking about. We both laugh.

My phone buzzes again. and again.

Arent you gonna get that? Luke asks me, referring to my buzzing phone in my pocket. I nod and take my phone out.

From Ian: Where the f--k are you?

From Ian: Are you at a party?

From Ian: Its late. go home.

From Ian: Better not be cheating on me.

I furrow my brows. He was definitely drunk. Ian was an extremely angry drunk. I decide to reply before he calls to most likely scream at me.

To Ian: Would you relax? Im out with my brother, as I told you before.

Everything okay? Luke asks me.

Yeah, just great. I sigh. I hate when Ian acted like that.

Im gonna go get some more drinks from the cooler outside, want to come? Luke asks.

I hesitate at first but nod and follow him outside.

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