Luke and the Boy Next Door | Muke

::Chapter 10::

"Because, you're my best friend."

Why does Michael have to be so amazing? Why do I have to be the shitty friend?
Why can't I just forgive him? He deserves everything nice in this world.

I ended up walking home with Michael.

The walk was quiet, we didn't speak once. The occasional glance at one another, that was it. The tension was definitely there, though neither of us would talk about what happened on the side of the building.

My eyes were puffy and red from all the crying. Michael didn't care, he stayed and comforted me which was a surprise for me.

The words he said, and the way he held me close, it reminded me all too much of when we were younger and one of us were sad or crying because we had hurt ourselves by attempting stupid things some boys do at a young age.

Michael hasn't left my side yet. I'm thankful that he's a reasonable person, not giving up on the friendship we had for so long. Even when I did, and still am doubting myself about it.

I climbed the front porch steps of Michael's home and sat at the top with Michael by my side. Like old times.

"Thanks." I murmured, staring straight in front of me at the view from his house. Even though I lived next door the view from their porch was always a bit better. You could see for miles, places we wanted to go as kids, to escape, but he left and I was stuck here to sit on their porch and hope they'd come back that day. I'd sit their and look out at every building and remember all the stories we built around that place or the people. Life was so much simpler five years ago.

"For what?" Michael was looking at me curiously. I kept my eyes looking straight ahead.

"Everything."

Michael nodded, still looking confused about my answer. "Define everything."

"Not giving up on our friendship. Not stooping to my level and treating me the way I've treated you since you've been back."

Michael smiled sadly, "How could I give up on you? I know we lost touch for awhile, those things happen. I never wanted to lose you either, you mean too much. And if I lost you I'd have nothing left. Luke, we went through too much together to throw it all away. You know that just as much as anyone else does."

"I was so dependent on you always being there when I needed you most, that's why it hurt so much when we lost touch." I said truthfully. Michael was surprised by my words. I glanced over at him, he was looking everywhere but me now.

"Do you remember the day before I left?"

I winced at his words. How could I forget? My first kiss. Our first kiss. The memories still fresh in my mind as if it happened the other day.

I nodded.

"Do you remember what I said to you?"

I looked right at him before nodding again.

"Say it."

"You promised to come back to me." I squeezed my eyes shut, I can't cry again, not today.

"Did I not?" Michael questioned, desperate to crack me open to find the old me. "I came back and you shut me down."

"It's just I have Ashton now-" Michael cut me off.

"What does he have to do with us being friends?"

"Before you left, and we y'know... We kissed. We kissed a few times. Then you were gone." I said, folding my hands on my lap.

"We-we were eleven," I saw Michael's eyes and I know it pained him to say that, to say it meant nothing because I know it meant everything to the both of us. "Doing stupid stuff, we've moved on from that... Right?" I used to know Michael better than myself and I know he's try to convince himself different than what he believes and it pains me to see him this way.

"Right."

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a/n: finally getting somewhere, talking some things through. but not the extent they should be yet. bc that'll probably be ugly and I'm not excited to write muke fighting oh well.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm updating earlier than usual bECAUSE THIS STORY HIT 10K rEADS LIKE WHATTT IM SO SHOCKED LIKE IM ONLY ON CHAPTER TEN WHAT EVEN THANK YOU

also I'm stupid and fell asleep on my phone before I could hit publish.

Thanks for reading!