She
Part Two
Michael awakened to the ringing of the phone and his brother's childish giggle. His eyes slowly adjusted to the light that poured in from the window of his bedroom. He sat up against the pillows and stretched his arms above his head.
"Michael mommy said for me to give you the phone!" Morgan said leaning over his older brother to hand him the cordless phone.
Michael took the phone with a furrowed brow and put it to his ear. His eyes watched as Morgan climbed up on the bed to sit on his knees beside him. "Hello?" He asked groggily.
"Hi! Michael,I know I said for you to call me but I wanted to tell you that I will get out of church around noon but by the time I get home and change,It will be around twelve thirty. I hope I didn't wake you." Clare's sweet voice filled his ear.
He sat up more,a smile forming upon his lips at the sound of her voice. He ran a hand through his fiery hair. "No you didn't wake me." He answered,shaking his head although he knew that she couldn't see the movement.
"Good. You certainly needed rest after just moving in yesterday. Anyway,I am getting ready to get in the shower for church but I just thought that it would be a good idea to discuss our meeting up later." She said as she pulled a pastel floral print dress from her closet. She went to her dresser and held the phone between her ear and shoulder as she grabbed her undergarments. A headband that matched her dress perfectly was pulled out as well.
"Um okay." He said,blushing shyly at the mention of her in the shower. "So you'll be here at twelve thirty?"
"Yeah. Anyway,I should hang up now. See you soon Michael! Oh and by the way,bring a swimsuit! We're gonna go swimming at my friend Conner's godfather's home. They just installed the pull like a week ago." She chirped as she hung up her phone with a smile and went to her bathroom,shutting the door carefully.
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"It's so nice to meet you!" Clare said as she shook Michael's mom's hand.
Carly smiled at the girl. "It's nice to meet you too Clare. Those cookies you made for us were delicious! Don't tell my husband though. Ever since I got pregnant he has been forcing me to eat....healthy." She crinkled her nose in disgust at the last word.
Clare giggled at the words as a tall,blond,handsome man walked downstairs with a little boy in his arms. "I see we have company!" The man said in a rich,accented tone as he put the little boy down on the ground and held out his hand to Clare. "I'm Jasper Jax. And you must be Clare Edwards. Michael couldn't stop talking about you."
"You're pretty." Morgan said softly,staring up at the teenage girl shyly.
She smiled and ran a hand through her side ponytail. "Thanks. Your adorable." She said,kneeling down to Morgan's height and holding out her hand for him to shake.
Just then,Michael came barreling down the stairs in a red NickelBack tee-shirt and a pair of camouflage shorts. A pair of Sketchers sneakers were on his feet. He had a bag filled with his swimtrunks,sunscreen,and a beachtowel in his left hand. He stopped short,breath catching in his throat when his gaze landed on Clare dressed in her bermuda shorts and lacy blue spaghetti strap top. A pair of plaid wedge sandals were on her feet.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked,breaking into his thoughts.
"Oh...yeah." He said as he walked over to her.
She gave him a sweet little grin and took his hand in her's. "It was nice meeting you Mr and Mrs Jax and you too Morgan!" She yelled as she pulled Michael out the door with her.
"She's good for him." Carly said as she wrapped her arms around her husband's waist. "Maybe she can help him,the way we can't."
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"Michael,this is Alli Bhundari. My best friend in the entire world." Clare said,introducing him to a slender,dark haired,dark eyed girl. "Alli,this is Michael Corinthos III my new next door neighbor."
Alli smiled and shook Michael's hand. "Nice to meet you." She said before she turned back to Clare. "Do you think Connor will mind if Johnny comes with us?" She asked,speaking of her boyfriend.
Clare could only shrug. "I don't know. He doesn't really like change...or Johnny for that matter after that camping trip fiasco."
"Well yeah,but Johnny apologized for that." Alli replied as her boyfriend walked out the door of the bathroom at The Dot.
Clare just rolled her eyes and shared a look with Michael that made him laugh before she introduced him to Johnny DeMarco.
Moments later,Connor rushed in and stopped infront of them,glancing questionably at Johnny then at Michael.
KC Guthrie came in behind him and stopped short at the site of his ex-girlfriend sitting so close to some redheaded boy. He could feel the jealousy overwhelm him at the site.
Clare met KC's gaze awkardly. To be truthful,since their breakup two months ago,they hadn't really talked at all which made this situation all the more awkward but Clare swallowed hard and quickly introduced Michael to her ex boyfriend and to Connor.
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After some lunch at the Dot,the six teens were at the Nelson/Simpson residence. Connor,Alli,KC,and Johnny were currently swimming while Clare had just climbed out and plopped herself down by Michael in one of the lawn chairs. "You gonna swim with us?" She asked as she flicked her wet hair from her big blue eyes.
Michael nodded. "Um yeah." He said as he swallowed hard.
"Michael?" Her voice had a curious yet serious edge to it now. "Why exactly did you move to Toronto?"
He looked into her shining orbs and knew that he could tell her,that she wouldn't judge him. "Over a year ago,I was shot."
To be continued....
Next Chapter:Michael tells about the coma and his mother's decision to move,Clare comforts Michael.
