the holiday- mileven

chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: christmas eve

"i've been dreading this day." mike sighed as he helped el pack her suitcase, which was laying on the bed they had just stripped. the pair had put everything in the wash so nancy didn't have to once she got home. they both also gave the house a bit of a clean, not that it needed much.

"me too." el groaned. "but i just can't leave my dad alone, especially at christmas."

"and i wouldn't want you to." mike smiled softly.

el smiled back, a wave of sadness flowing over her as she put the last item in the case.

"is that everything?" mike asked, while attempting to zip up the very full suitcase.

"yeah i believe so, i have checked everywhere about five times." el said quietly, looking up at him.

their eyes locked for a few seconds, but the moment was interrupted by the buzzing of mikes phone which was on the bedside table. he picked it up and smiled.

"it's nancy, she's boarding her flight."

"are you picking her up?" el asked, lifting her suitcase onto the floor and pulling the handle up.

"yep." mike said. " i feel like i should put a taxi sign on my car for the amount of airport runs i would have done this month."

el giggled, her head tilting to the side as she took in the sight of him for one of the last times until who knows when. she was admiring his features when he snapped her out of her thoughts by saying, "i guess we better get going."

el's stomach dropped, a sudden nausea flowing through her. over the last two weeks, she tried not to think about what this day was going to look like, trying to be present and enjoy their time together. it had only been two weeks, yet it felt like a lifetime, a lifetime that she wasn't ready to let go of yet.

el nodded sadly and gathered up her handbag while mike carried her suitcase down the stairs. eleanor put her coat and scarf on and slung her bag over her shoulder, looking around the room sadly before closing the door and descending the staircase.

mike had already loaded her suitcase into his car, and was turning the heating off in the house when el came down.

"what's wrong?" mike asked softly, although it was a silly question, he knew the answer.

eleanor didn't realise that she had been crying until mike gently wiped away her tears. his eyebrows were furrowed and his dark orbs were travelling all over her face in concern.

"i'm going to miss you so much." el cried, pulling him into a tight hug and burying her face in his jacket.

"i'm going to miss you too beautiful girl. we will organise something, okay?" mike said, his eyes starting to well up too, so he buried his face in her curls. he could feel el nod against him, squeezing him tighter.

they stayed like that for a few minutes before mike pulled away and said they better go or she'll miss her flight.

the drive to the airport was bittersweet, mike had some random radio channel on quietly and they held hands the whole way. mike refused to let go, even to change gears, so els hand followed his anytime he had to drop or go up a gear. no words were spoken, but they didn't need to, they both said everything they wanted to say.