The Treehouse [BxB]

part 5. twenty four

PART FIVE:
RETURN

Mickey flew back to England a couple of days later. He spent his first night back at university catching up on work, and lying to his flatmates about where he had been for the last few days. He wasn't sure why he didn't tell them the truth. But it felt like River was still someone he needed to protect, and Mickey's secret trip to Italy would always remain just that - a secret.

He spent the next few weeks enjoying uni life - clubbing, partying, studying. He went to his therapy sessions with Dr Carlton, he took his medication, he phoned Declan most days, and kept in contact with his family. He did everything he was supposed to do, but now, he was happier. He knew River was safe, and he knew he would be home soon. He just had to wait a little longer.

They spoke on the phone everyday; talking into the night, just like they used to do at sleepovers. Only this time, they weren't sleeping side by side, but hundreds of miles apart. Mickey would talk about his lectures, his friends, his boring trips to the library. And in turn, River would tell him about what he bought from the market, and the customers he would serve at the bar.

Mickey remembered the conversation he had had with Dr Carlton the week after his birthday; about how he wished that River would come back so everything could return to normal. But everything had changed, and so surely, nothing would ever go back to 'normal' again. But he was wrong, because together, he and River had found a new normal. It wasn't as easy as living next door to each other, but it worked.

"Have you got a secret girlfriend you're not telling me about?" Fran had asked him one day as they waited in line at a coffee stand on campus.

"Huh?" Mickey frowned, rubbing his hands together for warmth, his breath fogging in the icy air. It was November, the trees were bare, and the weather was miserable.

"Or boyfriend." Fran tilted her head to the side in contemplation.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're always texting." Fran gestured to his phone in his hand, "And you smile more." She said dreamily, "It's a good thing. I just wonder where it came from all of a sudden."

He shrugged, "I don't know." He lied, "But, no. I haven't got a secret girlfriend or boyfriend."

"Shame." She shrugged, "It would do you good to get laid."

They reached the front of the queue, ordered their drinks, and stood aside as they waited for them to be made, "Since when do you have to be in a relationship to get laid?" Mickey scoffed.

"True."

"And what do you mean it would do me good?"

"You're kinda uptight." She leant forward and massaged his shoulders through his thick winter coat, "And tense."

He swatted her hands away, "Fuck off." He laughed.

Their order was called and after grabbing their coffees, they made their way across the pretty campus grounds towards the library, "When you heading back to Axminster for Christmas? We should ride down together."

Sometimes, Mickey forgot that he and Fran were from the same quiet little southern town. "Beginning of December." He told her, "I already bought my train ticket."