End Up Here lh au

Chapter 15

Pres's POV

Before me lies the house that so long ago I called my second home. My safe haven. I haven't been back since the day I walked out on him. I haven't talked to him since then. Honestly, I don't really know what came over me in that instance with Luke a few hours ago. All I know is that in that second, he reminded of me of Mikey and what I had with him. I realized that I gave up the best thing I ever had, despite all the hardships we faced. I don't know why I came back or what I am expecting to happen. For him to take me back? No, I know he isn't that stupid. For him to slam the door in my face? Well.. That sounds like a fairly viable option.

When I kissed Luke I was completely ready to say yes. I got lost in his presence and everything felt right. But that changed, way too quickly. I had this gut feeling and before I knew it, I was running and I wasn't sure where. It was only until I turned onto the street leading to his neighborhood that I realized what that gut feeling was. Something was wrong and it had to do with Mikey. I didn't know what but my 'best friend telepathy' as we used to call it instantly kicked in.

So now here I am, facing the white, dainty house that he calls home, looking at his bedroom window with the light off. Every house in the light is on except for that one and I realize that he must not be home but his mom is. She was always one to keep the lights on when she slept so that the house wouldn't be broken into over night. I walk up to the door and knock lightly, hoping to be just loud enough to wake her but not too loud where it will scare her out of her slumber. I take a deep breath, ready to face the harsh reality of what is about to happen.

Not long after my knock, I hear the door unlock and slightly open. It's not his mom though. In the doorway stands a girl, probably about my age, with curly hair about shoulder length. "Hello?" She looks at me, puzzled.

"Hi, uh. Is Mikey- Michael- home?" I say, my voice softening with each word. She stares at me, with a sad look in her eye. It takes me a minute to realizing she's fighting back tears.

"You must be Presleigh-Mae..." How does she know me? Who is this girl? I've never seen her in my life.

"Uh.. Hi. Yes. Who are you and where is Michael?" My mind flashes back to the day I left as I see behind her, looking at the living room with the furniture still in the same exact spot. I picture his face, burning my mind. He was crying; I broke him.

"He.. He was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago and he-" I interrupt her as my eyes begin to flood with tears I didn't realize I had left in me. I knew where this was going.

"He's gone.. He-he's dead isn't he..?" She looks at me, tears streaming down her face as she nods her head, walking towards me opening her arms for me to fall into as I sob into her neck. "He's gone.. He's gone.." I repeat over and over, needing to except the disturbing reality I was just hit with.

"Come in honey, have a seat." She leads me into the house, sitting me on the couch as she takes a seat next to me, holding my hands as I put my head on her shoulder, more tears streaming down my face. I stand up and she lets me, assuming I know what is best for me. I walk down the hallway, seeing his door closed. I turn behind me to see her as she looks at me, nodding giving me permission. I take a deep breath as the tears slowly stop. I turn the doorknob, slowly pushing the door into the room as I close my eyes, not wanting to see it quite just yet. I take a few steps into the room before opening my eyes, turning on the light. I look around as I realize his room is the exact same. The usual band posters hanging above his bed, his comforter tucked into the mattress, the songs we wrote together still hanging above his guitar stand. As soon as I see those songs, it hits me. He left them all, even though they were all about us, love, relationships, futures.

I lay on the bed, closing my eyes, allowing all of our memories to flow into my mind. Before I know it, I'm slightly woken up by a blanket being placed on my body. Its the girl. She looks at me realizing that I was now awake. "Oh honey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, I just didn't want you to get cold. You can sleep here tonight if you want. Is there anything I can get you?"

I rub my eyes noticing it's still dark, indicating that I must have just drifted off. "What's your name? And thank you."

"Ashleigh." She smiles at me, shutting off the light.

"Hey, before you leave," I notice her stop in her tracks, turning back towards me. "Can you bring me my purse? I need to call someone."

"You didn't have a purse, honey." Shit. I left it in the limo with the boys. Now how the hell am I supposed to get home tomorrow? "Do you want to borrow my phone?" I nod as she goes out into the hallway to go retrieve her cell.

When she comes back, handing it to me, I dial his number. The number I have learned to remember just in case I needed it on a night like this. I put it up to my ear, listening to the buzzing drowning out my surroundings. "Hello?" His sleepy Australian accent brings me back to life.

'Luke, its me. Can uh.. Can you come get me? I'm sorry." I look down, even though he can't see me. I feel so bad using him like this. I just need to be home. Where I belong.

"Pres, don't worry about it. Of course. Text me your address and I'll be on my way." Im shocked. This isn't the typical answer you would get from someone you just abandoned on the side of the highway. I tell him I will and hang up, opening a new message to text him Mikey's address.

I walk over to his dresser pulling out a T-shirt and boxers to slip into so I can get my body out of this uncomfortable dress. Before I leave to sit on the driveway and wait for Luke to come get me, I enter my phone number into Ashleigh's phone and text myself so that I have her number when I get home to tell her thank you. I give her back her phone and say goodbye as I walk out the front door and down the driveway as I see the headlights driving down the road. Then a thought pops into my head.. Who is Ashleigh and why is she alone in Michael's house?

(a/n)

heeeey guiiis. so I feel really amazing cause I wrote 2 chapters in 24 hours and I feel like my updates will be coming back around, yay! I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I am enjoying writing it. I love you all! Thanks so much for reading. You have no idea how amazing it feels to know that I have nearly 850 people who read my story. That means soo much!

anyway, qotp time. Who is your favorite character and why? Mine is probably Presleigh because I like what I have planned in store for her in this story and she reminds me a lot of myself soooo, yeah. Hope you all are having a great day! -Much love, Shaena.