Benches | Mashton AU |

2. Crazy

Dedication:iCheeseYou bc you're reading thIS AND I CAN'T EVEN- ASDFGHJKL

I'm going crazy.

 Or maybe I already am , because as I stand in my dressing gown, I can't seem to remember how on earth I ended up in the kitchen in the middle of the night, gently stirring the cup of tea in my hands. I sigh, and pace as much as my tired legs will allow me before I ease myself onto my recliner.

I'm always like this. I think I am, at least. There's a few times when my memory seems really blurry, like a bad picture, and then all of a sudden, the picture's suddenly clear and my memory snaps back, and I'm left in the strangest places.

I used to think it was old age. Losing your keys, forgetting people's names, getting lost, it's all part of being old, right? That's what I thought. But, it wasn't that simple. I rub my temple and curse my brain, damged beyond repair. I serach for the word so I can insult it properly.

Alzheimer's Disease. That fúcking bítch.

I bury my face in my hands as I deperately try to remeber something, anything, everything.

October 5th 2015

54 years and 203 days ago

10 years and 103 days before

"Ta da!"  I look up and my eyes widen. In front of me stands Michael, and yet he looks so different. His hair isn't the deep purple I'm so used to, but instead a bright shade of red.

It's quet for a moment until I burst out laughing, "Oh. My. God," I gasp between hysterics, "You're literally Clifford the big red dog!"

Michael pretends to be annoyed and slaps me playfully, "Shut up. I got it because it was your favourite colour."

"How the fuck did you know that?"

"Whenever you wear red, you look happier." He shrugs as I eye him curiously. He smirks and takes my hand, pulling me up from the bench. Once I'm standing he looks into my eyes, before tugging me close. He puts one hand on my waist, another tangling into my curly hair.

"I know a lot about you. Maybe you'll find out if you go on a date with me?" He whispers into my ear.

I pull away, giggling again, "Sorry, you just sound like such a stalker,"

He pouts, "Stop ruining all my attempts at being romantic! I'm trying to woo you here!"

I raise an eyebrow, putting my hands in the air defensively, "Fine, fine. Be romantic, you little shít,"

He took my hand, intertwining our fingers before smiling at me, leading me away.

We've barely walked five minutes before we reach the little stream in the middle of the park, and on the small foot bridge is a band, performing a casual acoustic concert to the small crowd that has gathered. I turn to Michael and he grins, motioning to a blanket set under a tree.

I follow him open- mouthed as we sit down. "I thought you'd maybe like a picnic?" He asks, as he pulls out food from a basket.

I take the packet of oreos he offers, stuttering, "Y- yeah. Michael, this is a- amazing,"

He looks at me, taking my hand, "I wanted it to be special, so that one day we'll tell our kids about our first date, and how perfect it was,"

I smile back at him, and I scoot a little closer. I sit right next to him, our thighs touching, leaning my head on his shoulder as we ask each other little questions, the sun somehow shining despite the horrible weather yesterday.

And then suddenly there's a deafening crack, and I look up just in time to see the band's terrified faces before the bridge breaks under them, sending them and their instruments into the shallow stream. The crowd gets wet from the splashback, stunned as the band desperatly try to save their equipment.

Meanwhile, me and Michael are laughing so hard we might pee ourselves. "D-did y-you see their faces?" I say breathlessly.

"Ooh shít, they look mad," Michael giggles, and he pulls me up. "I got them to come here and perform,"

And we run away as fast as we can, still holding hands as four very angry and soaking band members chase us.

We turn a corner breathlessly, the band a little behind us and Michael drags me behind a bush, both of us crouching as we hold our breath.

The four angry guys continue running, heading far way from us. I turn to Michael giggling, "I can't believe they didn't notice your hair, Clifford,"

He glares at me and says, "You're lucky I'm crushing on you or I would beat you up so bad right now,"

I pouted, "No you wouldn't. You're a little kitten,"

"Seriously, shut up and just let me enjoy your pretty face."

*     *     *     *     *

I start to feel little drops of rain as we walk together, I look up and the sky is no longer a bright blue but an ominous grey. We rush to the door and I laugh as I see where we are.

"I don't think it's appropriate weather for ice cream, Michael," I tease

He glares at me and says, "I thought it would be sunny. Even the weather wants this date to end badly."

I give him sympathetic smile and a pat on the shoulder, "I'll have mint chocolate chip, thanks." I say as I find us a table.

I watch him in the line, chuckling at how impatient he is. He notices me staring and pulls a face, so I stick out my tongue and cross my eyes. We continue pulling ugly faces until the man at the counter clears his throat, and Michael realizes that he's at the front of the line.

I giggle at him as he sits down and he rests his chin in his hand, gazing at me. "You have a really cute laugh," he compliments. I stop laughing, blushing and looking down bashfully.

"Now I finally know how to get you to shut up!" He jokes.

I try to glare at him, but I don't look very frightening so I give up, flashing him a big grin. He smiles back, taking my hand and pulling me up until I'm standing, before leading me to the door.

"No way. Nope. You've been dragging me around all day, Clifford, but there's no way I'm going outside in that rain," I protest.

He grins cheekily at me, and I melt, letting him drag me into the pouring rain. We splash in the puddles, singing and dancing and running around as people look at us from inside warm shops as if we're crazy.

But as we finally sit down on the -our- bench, soaking as the sun emerges from behind the clouds and we finish our ice cream, I think they're right.

And that's not a bad thing.

[A/N]: Sorry that was definitely not worth the wait but I'm on holiday and wifi is crap :/ But tank you so much for reading, commenting and voting! I hope our day is filled with sunshine, love and good bands!

-Cece 🍃