reflections - mileven au.

fourteen. (final).

✧

sometimes, eleanor would wonder what she'd do without mike.

mike had been her comfort person ever since they met, he'd listen to her when she was happy, hugged her when she was sad, and kissed her when she looked too adorable to his gaze. 

it'd been just a year of dating, a year of happiness, yet she felt like it was something new, fragile, just like a glass orb being held in your palm. mike was her favourite person, and everyone noticed it, she didn't care if someone called her 'too in love', how couldn't you be with mike ?

and finally, maybe it was time that they moved in together, wake up next to eachother every morning, feel eachother's embrace everyday. they'd hang out together so often, that holly even called them a 'married couple' when talking to her friends.

eleanor sat on her bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. it was one of those evenings where everything felt just a little too quiet. the world outside her window was still, the kind of stillness that made you feel like you were the only person alive. her phone buzzed, a message from mike, and she smiled without even reading it. she already knew it'd be something that would make her heart flutter.

hey, you free tonight? the message read.

of course, she was. she'd clear her schedule for mike any day. she quickly typed back, always for you shithead <3

haha, so funny, love you <33

within minutes, mike was at her door. he didn't even have to knock anymore; he'd been over so many times that it felt like his second home. he walked in, that familiar grin on his face, the one that made eleanor's heart skip a beat. "missed me?" he teased, wrapping her in a warm hug the moment she opened the door.

"maybe," she replied, her voice muffled against his chest. she didn't even have to look at him to know he was smiling.

they settled on the couch, their usual spot, mike's arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. they didn't need to say much; the comfort of each other's presence was enough. mike absently played with a strand of eleanor's hair, twirling it around his fingers, and she closed her eyes. 'so clingy.' el thought, affectionately.

"so, i was thinking," mike started, his voice soft, almost hesitant. "what if we... i don't know, made this more permanent?"

she tilted her head to look up at him, her curiosity blinking. "what do you mean?"

"i mean, us. living together. i hate leaving you every night, and i love waking up next to you when i get the chance. why not make it an everyday thing?"

her heart raced at his words. they'd talked about it before, in the past, but this felt different. more real. "you want to move in together?"

"yeah," he nodded, his eyes searching hers for a reaction. "i mean, we practically live together already. half of my stuff is here, and i spend more nights here than at my place."

it was true. his toothbrush was next to hers in the bathroom, his clothes mixed in with hers in the closet, and his favorite coffee mug had found a permanent spot in her kitchen. it just made sense.

"i'd love that," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "i want that too."

mike's smile widened, and he leaned down to kiss her, a gentle, lingering kiss that felt like a promise. "then it's settled," he said against her lips, his hand resting on her cheek.

they spent the rest of the evening talking about the logistics, how they'd combine their stuff, which apartment they'd keep, and how they'd tell their friends and family. but mostly, they just talked about how excited they were to start this new chapter together.