MUKE short stories

want you back ✦ 12

12 - somebody else ✦

I don't want your body but I hate to think about you with somebody else.

✦✦✦

"Where do I put this box?" Michael asked Luke.

Luke looked stressed but the stress of moving was a lot better than the stress of being stalked by your psycho ex.

"Is it the one with shoes? Then please put a yellow sticker on it and place it closer to the door."

Michael did as he was told. "When did you accumulate so many things?" He laughed. "When you moved in with me you only had a suitcase and a box. And that was only two months ago."

Luke smiled and nodded. It seemed crazy to him as well. "Well, my mum gave me a bunch of stuff after we reconciled and when Ashton found out most of my ballet stuff was in London, he gave me all his spares."

"Luckily, you're getting it all back," Michael said.

"Luckily," Luke agreed.

He couldn't put into words how grateful he was for Michael.

When he moved back home, he had no sense of what to do. He was lost and confused.

Michael gave him home. He became his friend. Michael helped him get a job, reunite with his friend and family.

He helped heal the scars their past relationship left open.

And when Luke worried about Ricardo for weeks it only took two days for Michael to help fix that too.

His black eye still reminded Luke of the night of the arrest. He pushed away the memories and focused on the moment.

"Mikey?" He asked, sitting down on the couch. "I know we talked about this but are you genuinely okay with me moving out?"

Michael frowned. "Why would I not be okay with it?" He grabbed two drinks and joined him in the living room.

"I don't know," Luke sighed. "I feel like I used you to get back on my feet and now I'm leaving you like you did nothing for me."

"Hey," Michael smiled. "You know that's not how I feel. I'm just happy you are getting back on your feet. I'm pretty sure living with your estranged brother will bring you more growth than living with your ex. And that's all I want for you, to grow and blossom. You deserve it."

The younger man smiled. "You're one of a kind, Michael Clifford."

Michael rolled his eyes fondly. "Now get moving, we have other things to do, places to see."

✦

On a Saturday night, Luke was sitting in a bar surrounded by Michael's friends. When he asked Calum's wife if they're okay with tagging along she laughed.

"You are a part of the group now," Alex explained. "When I first started dating Calum, I wasn't allowed to best friends only Saturdays. Then one time the boys came over to our flat hungover and they made me the president of the club once I made them food."