Chapter 21 - Treat

After the incident with Joe and the police, Mick was so supportive. He stuck up for me when teachers got angry at me for missing deadlines and listened to my rants whenever we had time to spend together - which wasn't much at the minute because of Joe and I was coming to the end of exams. Of course to my family, he was just the 'nice teacher that cares about the family', which he was but they missed out on one vital piece of information - the 'nice teacher' had been in a relationship with their daughter for the last month - which gave me mixed feeling because it was nice they didn't know everything for once but my Mum was my best friend and I really wished I could tell her.

Saturday 18th June (2016)

Exams had finally finished and it was our day to meet up. His girlfriend was at work, his mum had Luke and my Mum and Dad were sorting out Joe's situation - giving witness statements of Joe's character to say he's not aggressive or something?

We were sat in his front room and he told me to put the kettle on, so as I put it on he then asked me to open the letter that was on the kitchen counter. I did as I was told, I found a confirmation letter for a hotel. As the kettle was boiling, I took it into him, acting as though I hadn't read it and as I passed it over he'd asked if i'd read it. I ended up saying yes - there was no way I could lie to that face - and he just looked at me. Raising his eyebrows and winking very obviously, clearly trying to hint something which I wasn't getting at all.

"What?" I snuffed, tired of not understanding what he was going on about.

"It's for us, Taylor. I booked us a night away in the Lake District. Just me and you, with no worries about being spotted, what do you think?" He exclaimed, but spoke hesitant as he knew I didn't like surprises.

"Seriously? Michael Carter have you actually? Oh my god... this is amazing! You're literally the best!" I screamed, I was so so excited we finally get a night just me and him, no guilt, no paranoia. Just us.

"Shhhh, we don't know the neighbours hearing... and I'm glad you're happy Taylor, I think we need to get away from here." He whispered as he cupped my face, as I involuntarily rested my head in his hand.

Admiring the man in front of me, I completely forgot about the boiled kettle. I jumped up and rushed to make the brews, Mick followed me in and got a flask out of his kitchen cupboard. Gesturing to me that we're taking these to drive.

"Woah wait, what's your girlfriend doing? What about Luke? What am I telling my parents?" I started worrying about what we were about to do and whether he had thought about this at all - did he forget about the circumstances that we were doing this in?

"All sorted you don't have to worry, you can tell your Mum you're staying at Nancy's or Billie's i'm sure she'll be fine with it." He replied with a cool tone, understanding that I panic and get worried about situations like this.

"Okay what's the time, twenty-past-one, do you think we should set off? You need to pack and then we need to go to mine so I can get my things and tell my Mum i'm staying at Billie's for the night." I said, again showing my bossy side. What can I say, I like to be organised.

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We were on the way to mine and I'd told him to park round the corner so my Mum didn't see who's car I was in. Packing my things after she agreed to letting me stay, I said bye and kissed her on the cheek before running out the door and jumping in the car, grabbing his jaw and smashing my lips onto his before he pushed the handbrake down and began to drive away.

We called at the service station half way and I stayed in the car whilst he bought a McDonalds for us to devour in the comfort in his car. We listened to music, laughed an unbelievable amount and chatted about how amazing tonight will be. I saw his awful 'dad' dancing and heard his terrible singing voice, and he has the pleasure of the same experience with me, but it was okay because we didn't care and we were so fucking happy to just be in each others company that nothing else mattered.

When we arrived, we both got out the car and our eyes met again over the top of the car before I shut my eyes and took a deep breath in. Just to take in everything, the smell, the noises. I opened my eyes again and looked around the car park, seeing mountains all around. The scent of fresh air and utter peace and content was all around. We walked hand in hand to the reception desk, knowing full well nobody knew who we were and we could be whoever we wanted for a night because reality kicked back in.

The hotel door clicked shut and I ran into the hotel room, diving onto the queen size bed and feeling the bed move when Mick jumped on next to me. He grabbed my waist and pulled me into him, spooning and looking out of our hotel window the view was simply mountains for miles around - the possibilities felt endless.

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I opened my suitcase and got a dress out as Mick told me we were going out for a meal, I went into the bathroom with my makeup bag and made myself look as presentable as I could, remembering he's mostly only seen me in minimal makeup and school uniform. I had a job on my hands, and I wanted to get served - can you imagine the embarrassment if they asked for ID. I did my makeup and slipped into a burgundy silk evening dress and heels. I heard a knock on the door followed by 'are you ready' and 'I made the reservation for 7pm'.

I opened the bathroom door and walked out into the hotel room, seeing my Mick in the sexiest white shirt and tie, with the top unbuttoned because he knew that's how I liked it, and a pair of black pants with brogues. He stood shocked. As did I. It's fair to say this is the first time either of us had looked like this and I was loving it already. He walked closer and grabbed my hips, turning me round before turning me back round and planting a kiss on my lips.

"Wow babe... you look stunning. You look even better in that dress..." He spoke slowly, his eyes taking in every inch.

"You don't look to bad yourself Michael, very sexy in the white shirt, I see you've left the top one unbuttoned." I replied whilst fiddling with the collar and placing my hand on the back of his neck, pulling him down for another peck before shouting, "Right come on, we need to get to the restaurant..." followed by a click of the door and the sounds of my heels on the floor. We held hands once again (clearly taking advantage of the privacy) as he placed his blazer jacket over my shoulders. Leaving the car park, I watched as he had one arm straight holding the wheel and the other hand on the back of my headrest whilst reversing, with the look of concentration on his face I can tell you he couldn't have looked any better in that moment.

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As we were shown to our table, I looked around and everyone was in their own little bubbles, only listening to each other, I looked at Michael and suddenly felt weird, like i'm doing something really bad and nobody knows. He noticed and said my name, when I looked over at him he raised his eyebrows as if to say 'tell me what you're thinking'.

"It's just, it's strange you know, this. Me and you, and being normal... you have no idea what i'm going on about do you..." I explained whilst he looked at me with confusion, just nodding his head with empty expressions.

"Yeah I do, nobody knows we're here, nobody cares. Just two normal people, no guilt and no lies." He said smiling and looking around the restaurant before landing his eyes on me.

"Well, at least for a few hours anyway..." I whispered as he took my hand in his, rubbing the back with his thumb. He looked distant for a second, I asked what he was thinking about.

"Ahh, I was just thinking about how much I like the normal you..." He sweetly replied as the waitress came over for orders.

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I walked out the bathroom after having a shower, my hair was up in a ponytail and I had a long button up shirt on. When I reached the bed I was greeted with a cosy Mick, shrouded by the duvet and pillows as he lifted up the cover and gestured for my to get in. I scooted back into him and started spooning, but then I realised we couldn't chat or see each other, so I moved away and turned round, intertwining our legs as he placed a warm hand on my bare face.

"I wish we could stay here forever..."

"If only..." He softly replied kissing the back of my hand before leaning in and kissing me. Without hesitation I deepened the kiss, causing him to wrap his arms around my waist and pull me closer. I hesitantly pulled away and placed one last peck on his lips before I rested my head on the pillow. Stroking his face with the back of my hand, he took it in his and kissed the back of it again, for longer this time before intertwining his fingers with mine and turning me round, pulling me in and resting his free arm across my waist.

As my eyelids started to close, I took one last look and one last deep breath to make sure I remembered this moment. I went to sleep feeling protected with his big arm covering me.

"Night Taylor." His voice low and rough.

"Night Michael. I love you." I grunted as though it was almost second nature to say that.

He sat up, causing me to open my tired eyes and look round to see a smiling Mick, clearly very happy about something. "What?" I asked.

He fell back down on the pillow and pulled my hair behind my ear from behind. He kissed my neck put his warm arm back round my cold waist.

"I love you too." He whispered.