Our Beginning | Mickey Altieri

Chapter Forty-Three

Music from Mickey's car radio continues to play. The two of us still rest at the back. Outside, parked at an abandoned strip mall to rest. And here I am, lying down on my back at the seats with Mick having his arms around my waist, asleep. One of his hands slip inside my shirt, making me shiver to his touch until I could no longer feel his coldness.
"God, Mick, you have such cold hands," I whispered to him, silently laughing and wrapping my arms around his neck.

All of a sudden, his face buries into my chest. I could already feel him planting kisses over neath. Can't helping, I let out a smile. My hands lace with his hair, playing for a little bit before I stopped, just to look at Mick. I can't see his face right now, but I can still picture his features just perfectly. Well, I've seen him everyday. That's a fact.

I don't want him to let go. With his arms around me, I feel safe. Man, I love this guy so much that words can't describe how much I do. From a friend to a possible boyfriend. Reggie will lose his mind if he ever finds out about us.
'He'll definitely lose his shit.' I laugh slightly, burying my face in Mick's hair, pulling him closer.

'You know? Maybe getting into the game was such a good idea. Who knew someone who had feelings for me would end up being a surprise. Well, it should be. I've never been in the game ever since.'

"Yeah, not after when I found out," I whispered very quietly to my sentence and not to wale up Mick. I was just...shocked to find out that he would cheat on mom with another woman. I saw their relationship as some perfect, healthy type.
But I was only a kid. I never knew what lied beneath. And that's how relationships are. They're not meant to be perfect. People argue, disagree, but some never hate or cheat on someone. Most will end up forgiving each other and get through it. Just like last night when the two of us had a small fight.

Was I afraid? Yeah, I was. But I was afraid of being misunderstood by someone I care for. But was he also afraid? I can tell he was too. For that one reason. And that's what I hate. I don't want him to picture us as his previous relationship, I want him to picture a new beginning.
'One day, if we ever get together, I will do my best to get him help on any issue he's facing. I want him to have a new beginning. I want to have a new beginning.'

"I want our beginning." His body shuffles around until he lifts up his head to face me. His eyes bare open.
'Shit. I said that out loud, didn't I?'

"What is about 'our beginning'?" Looking down, I spot him with a tiredly grin look on his face. His eyes half-lidded too.
"It's nothing. You should go back asleep." I place a kiss on his head. He seems to refuse and asks me again. "C'mon, just tell me. What's up?"

"It's just something."

"So what is this 'something'?"

"Mick, can you not?" He lets out a chuckle, soon fading afterwards.
"I'm just curious. I want to know what you meant about 'our beginning'."

"I think you should already know what I mean."

He stops and thinks for a moment.
"I'm not sure..."

"Mick, you dumb fuck. I mean us."

"Oh." A tiredly smile forms on his lips. "Us."

A smile shortly forms on my lips. I bring him closer to feel more of his embrace around me. "It just came in mind. About last night, I knew you were afraid. Just for that one reason."

"I'm still very, very sorry for yelling at you." He buries his face on my chest, squeezing my waist. I can feel him shaking. "I didn't mean to..."

"Mick, it's okay." I brush his hair calmly to smooth him out of things. "It's fine, really. Please, don't cry." My voice cracked at the end, causing him to stop shaking and face me. I rest my forehead against his, caressing his face gently while doing so. "Just please, don't cry...please." He nods, looking down. Burying his face on my chest, he begins to bring me closer to him, closing the tiny inch of space that was once there, gone.

"Listen, Mick." His head perks up. "Whatever you're dealing with, I want to help. I want you to have a new beginning. Just like how I came here for a new start. I want to help you leave the past. And to help you feel better too." Using my thumbs, I wipe his tears off. His hand trails to my cheek doing the same. That's when I realized I started crying as well.

"I'm just surprised that I yelled at you. I didn't want that to happen and I'm scared that could happen if we were together."

"Relationships are never perfect, Mick. People fight during their time with a partner. That's just how life is. I've learnt that the hard way. Most fight, argue, often disagree, but some forgive each other and help one another through what they're facing."

I lean down, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. Once I pulled back, he comes for another, crashing his on mine. His hands slide inside my shirt. His hands didn't feel cold all of a sudden. They felt warm. Mick starting hovering above me, tilting his head slightly to deepen our kiss. I wrap both my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.
For a while, he pulls back, saying, "I've learnt it that way too."

He moves away from me and sat up. Resting his back behind a window, he motions me to sit beside him. I got up and did what he wanted me to do. His hand laces with mine when they brushed together.
"About my parents, you're probably wondering how I never mentioned my dad."

"How come?" As soon as I asked, tears were in the verge to come down. "When my little brother was born, him and my mom had an argument. It happened a lot when I was little too. But they always made up and forgave one another. It showed me they still love each other...not until after that one argument reveals that he passed away in a car accident. And-"
Tears finally fell down. "And he left after that argument. They didn't forgive each other yet. It left my mom thinking he never forgave her and I know it would with him too."

I immediately wrapped my arms around him. He shortly did the same around my waist. "He never saw him too. He never did after."

I brushed my fingers to his hair, making him relax his body to calm down. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mick. But I know he would still forgive her. I know she did. She would. They would make a new beginning after that argument. One that's all settled." I let go one hand, lacing with his back again. "We can too."

His lips gently rest on my collarbone, leaving a trail.
"It'll never be your fault if we were to argue. We can forgive each other, help each other, make a new beginning once it's all over."
 
I smile at him once he lifts his head up.
"Let's make one together whenever the two of us are ready. Our beginning. Just us."