The Fall of the Aftons

164: Michael Afton

Michael sat on the floor in front of Noah's bed, staring at a piece of lint on the floor. He hadn't left the floor in days, except for using the restroom. Noah had tried numerous times to get him up and out of the room, but he failed every time. Noah could barely get him to eat any food. The rest of the Wrights couldn't get him to.

Somebody knocked on the bedroom door, startling him out of his thoughts.

"Go away," he mumbled, not even looking away from the lint on the floor.

Noah still opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "At this point, go away means come in but leave me alone when it comes to you," he said, chuckling slightly. "How're you doing?"

Michael pulled his legs up to his chest and smashed his cheeks into his knees.

"That bad?" he asked, frowning.

"Of course."

He sighed, then sat down next to Michael, leaning against him. "I'm sorry, my prince. I can't imagine how bad you're feeling right now."

Michael blushed at the nickname. "Don't call me that," he mumbled. "I'm not a prince."

Noah chuckled and lifted Michael's head, kissing his cheek. "You're my prince, so you're technically still a prince."

"Then what are you?" he asked, glaring at his boyfriend for a moment. He kicked his legs out and leaned against Noah's bed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"The loving servant that shares your forbidden love," he said with a cheesy smile, draping himself over Michael's legs. "The same loving servant that wants to make your terrible days a little brighter and help you with whatever you need."

"A servant that likes to wear skirts," Michael added quietly. "No matter how many weird stares he gets from anyone who sees him."

Noah laughed, then sat up and kissed Michael's cheek again. "You got that right," he confirmed happily. He stood up and grabbed Michael's hands, pulling him up slightly. "Get up. I've got a surprise for you."

"No."

"Are we going to do this the hard way?"

"No, of course not. You're going to leave me alone so I can get some alone time."

"All you've had for the past week is alone time, Mikey."

"Would you rather me relentlessly throw myself into my work?"

"No, I'd rather you accept the help that my family and I are trying to give you." He bent down in front of Michael, still holding his hands. "I take it that we're doing this the hard way?"

"Just leave me alone," he mumbled, trying to pull his hands back.

"Guess we're doing this the hard way." He slid his hands underneath Michael and lifted him up bridal style.

"Holy crap—Noah! Put me down!" he shrieked, terrified. He wrapped his arms around Noah's neck, trying to keep himself safe.

"Relax! We're not even leaving the house."

"Then why are you carrying me?!" he exclaimed.

"Because you refuse to leave your room!" he laughed, then started to carry Michael out of the room, ignoring Michael as he started to flail and scream.

If you're trying to make him drop you, that's not going to work, Noah's fourth oldest sister, Sunnimae, signed, laughing. She was Deaf, so American Sign Language was her main form of communication.

Shut up, he signed back before he stuck his tongue out at her.

She laughed loudly before she looked at Noah. Your boyfriend is funny, Noah.