As Close As Strangers

Twenty Four

Luke

I was last to see him. I let the three of them go before me. In all honesty, I was scared. The last time we spoke was an argument and I wasn't sure if he even wanted me here. Calum and Ash went home. Ella decided to stay.

"What are you waiting for?" Ella asked.

"Oh, nothing. I'll just, uh. I'll go in now." I smiled.

I opened the door and walked into the room cautiously. I was waiting for him to tell me to leave. Or to get out.

"Luke?" He said.

"Michael." I said.

I was trying to hold it together. I didn't want to cry again. I had to hold myself together.

"You're here." He said.

"It would appear so."

"Sit down, Luke. You look like you're about to be sick." Michael said.

I nodded and sat next to him.

"Michael, I'm sorry." I blurted out.

"You're sorry?" He asked.

"Yes. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let you leave. You were angry and upset. I should not have let you go like that. Fuck, I just wouldn't have been able to handle it if that fight was the last thing we ever said to each other. I'm sorry." I told him.

Holding it together didn't go as well as I had planned. I was already a mess. I felt like I was punched in the stomach. I was gasping and my chest felt tight. Tears fell down my cheeks as I tried to avoid eye contact with him.

"You're so soft, Hemmings." Michael sniffled.

I looked up and saw that Michael was crying too.

"Shut up." I laughed.

"Come here, embrace me." He said.

I got up and pulled him into a tight hug.

"God, I thought I would never see you again." I cried as we were still in the embrace.

"I didn't think you would come. Actually, I only thought that my mother would be here. How'd you get Ella down here?" He asked.

"We didn't plan on telling her. My mum told her that I was down here with Cal and Ash and she thought I was hurt. We were shocked when she showed up." I said.

"Well, what happened when she found out that I was the one who got hurt?" He asked sheepishly.

"She broke down. She just completely lost it and blamed herself." I told him.

"I'm still shocked that she stayed." He said.

"I could see why." I nodded.

"I realized a lot when I was out. I should have given her space from the beginning. That's all she wanted. I have absolutely no clue what she went through and I had no right to intrude like that. It was my decision that ended everything." He said.

"Wow. That was deep." I smiled.

"Yeah, yeah." Michael laughed.

Michael was finally okay. I could finally breathe easy.

Authors Note

But tbh, I almost cried writing this omg