\\-𝒜𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒞𝑜𝓃𝓃𝑒𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹-// [ℕ𝕠𝕒𝕙 𝕩 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕖𝕝 𝔽𝕒𝕟𝔽𝕚𝕔]

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝟣: 𝒫𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒸𝒽𝑜𝑜𝓁 𝒜𝒸𝓆𝓊𝒶𝒾𝓃𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒𝓈

{I know they're 4 and 5- they talk clearly in this part of the story- pretend they don't- OK-}

August 7th, 1969

        Swift footsteps were heard as the young woman walked up to the colourful double doors, pulled them open, and walked over to a desk, trying to ignore the squirming boy in her arms. Michael looked around, gripping his mother's frilled blouse as his heterochromatic eyes darted around the unfamiliar area. A woman sat at the desk, filing papers, not looking up until Roselle rang the small bell. "May I help you ma'am?" she asked, looking up. The young woman smiled brightly. "Not precisely. I'm just dropping off my son," she explained, setting the small boy down. Michael looked around before clinging to Roselle's skirt "Ma..where...am...I...?" he asked, eyeing the small baby gate that led to a brightly coloured playroom. Roselle looked down at her son "Oh You're going to stay here- this is one of the best preschools in the state- Mummy will be back dear." She leaned down and kissed his head. 

     Michael looked away as the secretary opened the gate, gesturing for him to enter the room. He waved to his mother before walking through the gate into the brightly coloured room filled with laughing kids around his age playing with an array of toys. He noticed a boy in the corner alone, playing with a teddy bear. Michael walked over, holding his fox plushie, and sat down. "Hi...I like your hair! It's my favourite colour" he smiled as the boy turned around. The redhead smiled, "Are your eyes different colours...?" he asked, reaching forward to point at Michael's heterochromatic eyes. The small boy nodded, "Mhm- Mummy said it makes me special" he giggled, "I'm Micheal..." he extended a gloved hand. The slightly older boy stared at his hand, "I-I'm...Noah..." he whispered. 

       Michael smiled, "Nice to meet you" he giggled. "Wanna play?" he held up his fox plushie. Noah nodded and the two boys happily sat away from the other kids, playing with their plushies. They played until the end of the day and their mothers came to pick them up. Roselle picked up Michael, turning to leave, "Olivia, is that you?" she asked the scarlet-haired woman who picked up the small redheaded boy. She turned, "Roselle? I haven't seen you since before you moved after high school," she smiled, holding her son. The ginger-haired woman beamed. "Well, it seems the boys are getting along- how about we schedule a playdate for later today?" she asked, running her fingers through her son's dark hair that faded to blonde at the tips. Olivia nodded, "That's a lovely idea" She bounced Noah in her arms as the two women left the preschool, catching up on each other's lives, their sons also talking before they went their separate ways. 

        When they got home Michael ran to the basement door, pushing it open "DADDY! DADDY!" he yelled, running down the stairs and shoving open the door to William's workshop, where he should've been working with Henry. The brunette climbed up the step ladder and got onto the workbench, staring at his father and Henry confused about what they were doing. He huffed and crossed his arms, "DADDY!" he yelled once again causing his father to quickly turn around. "Michael- what did I tell you about knocking-" he sighed and walked over, picking up the small boy as he erupted into giggles, his father tickling his stomach. Henry fixed his tie and buttoned the top of his shirt back up, before walking over as well. "Hey Mikey- you have fun at school?" he asked, booping the small boy on the nose. Michael nodded, "I made a friend!!" he exclaimed, squirming in his father's arms. William held his son happily, "That's great, now back upstairs you go" he smiled and set the small boy down, patting his back. 

     Michael made his way out of the workshop, the door shutting behind him abruptly. He turned at the slight noise coming from the room, muffled by the large metal door. He turned and crawled up the stairs, back to his Mother's arms. "Maaa!!" he giggled as Roselle picked him up. She smiled, "How about we head over to Olivia's now hm?"  she smiled, grabbing her coat, and her keys, before heading outside. Michael giggled as his mother buckled him into the car seat before driving off down the street. They pulled up to the small house, Michael feeling the car stop and his mother lifting him into her arms as she walked up to the front door. The wooden door opened and there stood a man with gingery hair and striking icy-blue eyes, turning back inside, "Olivia did we have guests scheduled for today?" he asked his wife. Olivia walked up to the front door, Noah running behind her and clutching the hem of his mother's full skirt in his small hands. The scarlet-haired woman smiled, "this is my friend from high school, Roselle. Her son is around Noah's age so we thought they could be friends." She explained before patting her son's back, gesturing him forward as Michael was set to the ground by his mother. 

       The two young boys intertwined their hands before running off into the house, giggling as their pattering footsteps receded. Olivia smiled, "I think they'll get along just swell," she said softly, Roselle nodding. "I agree, I believe they will be great friends for a long time" she added, soon walking inside with the other two adults to supervise the children. But the two boys would grow to be much more than friends...

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