Emotionless

Chapter Thirteen

Michael let himself be dragged away to the tables and chairs on the side of the club. He watched his parents go over to dance so he concentrated his attention to Annabel.

"Guys, this is Michael. Michael, these are my friends. Danielle and Beverly." She pointed to two blonde girls, obviously twins. "Tyler and Brittany," She pointed to a tall blonde surfer guy with his arm around a bubbly, petite, brunette, "And Jesse." She pointed to a guy with longish curly, black hair. He was wearing baggy jeans and a white beater, a maroon button up over it with a jean jacket over that. Michael stuck out his hand and shook all the guys' hands.

There was something about Jesse, Michael couldn't place exactly what it was but there was something not right about him.

He looked over at Annabel and smiled, she was laughing with the twins about something and she looked beautiful. Michael turned his head and saw Jesse looking at Annabel with the same expression, lovingly, envy. That was it, he was into Annabel.

Michael walked over to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders. She gave him a quick smile before turning back to the girls.

"Yeah, she's worn a few of my designs. She's totally cool. She's here actually. And get this, with lil Tommy Q!!"

The two girls squealed and started clapping. Michael looked down at Annabel, "You talking about my mom and dad?" Annabel looked up at him, "Yeah. Is that a problem?"

Michael reluctantly shook his head, "No, it's fine."

There was something off about her. It seemed like she was a different person when she was around these people.

Michael shook that thought away and grabbed her hand, gently. "Hey babe, you wanna dance?"

Danielle, or was it Beverly? Anyway, one of the two snorted. "Puh-leeze, Annie can't dance!"

Michael turned to Annabel, "Annie?" Annabel shrugged, "Don't worry about it."

Michael shook his head, "Are you kidding? Annabel can too dance. At the clubs back home, all the bouncers knew her name. Why didn't you tell them babe?"

Annabel started to blush and she hid her face. "She asked Jesse to teach her." Brittany said, shedding home light on the situation.

Michael turned to Annabel and raised his eyebrows. Annabel just shrugged and grabbed Michael's arm, dragging him to the dance floor. "What was that?" He asked when they were away from them.

Annabel shrugged, "Don't worry about it Michael."

Michael reluctantly pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind and just focused his attention on his sexy girl dancing in front of him.

Michael placed his hands on her hips as she danced around. He felt eyes on them and looked over at her group of "friends" looking at them with their jaws hanging. Annabel was the best dancer he's ever met. He knew she took hip hop classes; at least she did before she moved.

Annabel pulled away from him slightly and did her own thing; Michael just stood by and watched.

Was it just him, or did it seem like he was doing that a lot lately?

Michael was about to walk over and dance with her again when that Jesse guy walked over to her and started dancing with her. 'It's just a dance.' He told himself, 'But why does she look so excited and flustered?'

Suddenly Jesse leaned down and kissed Annabel. She did nothing to fight him off either.

Michael was pissed, he walked swiftly over to them and pulled Jesse away. He pulled his fist back, ready to hit him when he spoke. "Annie, I thought you said you would dump his ass already! I've waited long enough!"

Annabel buried her face in her hands and Michael let his arm drop. He turned to Annabel. "What?"

Annabel looked up at him and touched his arm gently, "Michael…"

"No!" Michael pulled back, jerking away from her. He slowly started to move toward the door and Annabel followed him.

Finally outside, Michael turned around and looked at her. He ran his hand over his face. "You too huh?"

Annabel sighed, "What?"

"You just stayed with me because of who my parents are? My mom at least. It seems like that's all I'm good for these days, my parents."

"Michael, that's got nothing to do with…"

"Oh, doesn't it?"

Before she could answer Michael, not seeing his parent's car anywhere, got in a cab that had pulled over to let someone out. Michael quickly yelled Annabel's address at the man and pulled away from the curb.

Annabel sighed and looked around, she didn't see their car anywhere and she really didn't want to go anywhere with Jesse. She sighed and walked back into Avalanche anyway.

Michael got out of the cab and threw some bills at the guy. He stalked into the house and looked around. It seemed that everyone was sleeping. He figured his parents took their car home, it wasn't at the club but it was in the driveway.

Michael walked up the stairs and into his room, he pulled out his cell phone and placed it on speaker on the dresser as he walked around and gathered his stuff. "Hello, Continental Airlines, how may I help you?" He heard a chipper voice say. Michael switched the phone off speaker and held it up to his ear.

"Yes, I need the next flight from Los Angeles to Toronto please."

"Alright, well one just left the airport so the next one is at five thirty tomorrow morning. Should I book a ticket sir?"

"Yes, book three please."

"Alright, can I recommend first class?"

"That'd be wonderful. Thank you."

"Alright sir, and your name and credit card number?"

"Name, Tom Quincy. He's my father and he'll be paying with his credit card tomorrow morning. I don't want to wake him for it, do you understand?" He told the attendant sweetly, knowing she would probably swoon over just hearing his name.

"Tom Quincy?! Of, of course, of course. It's no problem. Enjoy your flight sir, thank you for choosing Continental Airlines."

"My pleasure." Michael said as he hung up the phone. He walked over to his mom's bedroom door and knocked softly. He didn't hear anything and sighed when he realized she must have been sleeping.

Jude heard knocking in the distance and sighed. She rolled out of Tommy's arms and pulled on her robe. She walked over to the door and carefully opened it.

Michael turned at the noise. "Mom, what are you doing in dad's room?"

Jude smiled, she called Tom his dad. "Um, what? Oh, I just got some of my luggage mixed up with his." She lied.

Michael nodded and looked around, "Well did you find it?"

Jude looked down and realized that she wasn't holding anything, "Oh, um, yeah…?"

Michael nodded, still a little unsure. Jude saw the tracks that the tears left on his face and her face softened. "Michael, what happened?"

Michael shrugged, "Nothing. I don't want to talk about it. I booked us some flights to go home. Tomorrow at 5:30 in the morning. So set an alarm or something, alright?"

Jude nodded, knowing something must have happened with Annabel but didn't question it. She was probably the last person he wanted to talk to right about now.

"How many tickets did you get?"

"Three, he'll come too right?"

Jude smiled and nodded, "Alright, well then I'll get to bed. Tell me if you need anything."

"I will mom, thanks." Michael loved his mom; she always knew when to just let him alone.

Michael headed over to his own bedroom. He heard Annabel coming in the front door and sighed. He quickly whipped out his cell phone and sent a text message to his friend, telling them to call him.

Annabel walked up to Michael's door and knocked softly, she cracked the door opened and Michael turned to her, all traces of the tears gone. Annabel opened her mouth to speak but his phone rang, interrupting what she was about to say.

Michael picked it up, "Hello?"

"Michael, what's wrong? You said to call you at one in the morning. You okay?"

Michael smiled, it was his friend Ava. "Hey Ava, now's not really a good time."

Ava got the message; she had made him do this once. He pretended to be her boy-toy or whatever to make another guy jealous.

Ava started to talk loudly into the phone so that whatever girl was on the other line would hear. "Michael, where'd you go? You haven't been around the scene lately and I miss you. Me and the rest of the squad."

Michael laughed slightly, "Well I miss the girls too. I'm coming home tomorrow so tell them to get a cheer ready or something."

"And maybe we can hang out too? You know, alone?"

Michael smiled, "Sure, me and Annabel are over so we can hang out a lot more now." He said a slight suggestive tone in his words.

Annabel sighed, "Michael…"

Michael held up a finger, telling her to hold on. "Well I have an early flight tomorrow so I should get to bed. Pick me up from the airport?"

Ava laughed, "Sure, if you tell me one thing."

"Anything."

"What are you wearing?"

Michael chuckled and looked down at the sleepwear he had changed into. "Gray sweatpants."

"Ooh, no shirt?"

"Well I'm wearing a black t-shirt but I figured I'd paint you a better picture." Ava smiled, "Bye sexy."

"Bye Ava."

Michael hung up his phone and turned to Annabel, "What?"

"Michael, c'mon. What was that?"

"You obviously have no problem cheating on me. So why, now that we're over, shouldn't I enjoy it too."

"You hate cheerleaders. I know it was all a ploy Michael."

"No…" Michael corrected, "You hate cheerleaders. Hated them anyways, so I stopped hanging out with most of my friends to be with you. Me and Ava stayed close though. Thank god, I don't know what I'd be like without her."

Michael brushed past her and opened the door motioning for her to leave. Annabel sighed, sadly, and walked out. She actually looked a little hurt and it pulled at Michael's heart.

'No, stop caring about her.' Michael told himself as he crawled back into bed and closed his eyes, trying to fall into a deep, forgetful, sleep.