My Famous Brother's Best Friend

Sigh

"So he hasn't left his room much since I left?"

Calum boasted from the backseat, "Man cave."

I turned back to look at him, "What?"

"It's his man cave. It's pretty much his basement."

I nodded, fixing my eyes on the road. My stomach was basically nonexistent at this point, inching closer and closer to Michael's house. Can I face him? Should I face him?

Luke put the car in park, "Okay, here."

I huffed, tugging my beanie further down my head. Before I could open the door, Calum reached for my wrist.

"We'll wait here for 20 minutes, just in case."

I smiled at him, grateful that he was looking out for me even though I'd put him through hell.

I knew where the key was, plucking it from under the ashtray. I slid it in the door, opening the door to a new place. Michael had moved out of his parents house, moving to the other side of town and into a similar house, but it was so foreign. Michael in general was foreign, let alone his new home.

I found the stairs that led downstairs, walking down them quietly. I could hear his tv on at a very high volume.

As I rounded the corner, I caught a glance at Michael for the first time in months, my lungs beginning to fail.

He was laying on the couch, his red hair peeking out from over the couch cushion. He was watching the football game, the announcer drowning out the sound of my heart beating out of my chest.

"Hey you."

He sat up, frozen as he muted his tv.

I tried again, "M-Michael."

He finally turned, his eyes wide and his mouth open wide, "You're actually here?"

I nodded, not being able to find my voice. He was wearing his Metallica baseball tee along with his black skinny jeans. I forgot what his frame looked like, and with his precise clothing choice and his sad face, I could have fell in love with him all over again.

Snap out of it Madison, that's not why you're here.

He turned off the tv, looking around on the coffee table. He pushed the several beer bottles off the table, "I would've cleaned up if I knew you were coming."

"You know I left, right?"

He nodded, "Yeah, after I told you that you were all I had and all I wanted. Lydia and Calum came over after that and I saw the note you left for him. It was really nice."

He was trying so hard to be neutral. I could tell. He didn't want to show too much emotion, and he was obviously wary. He was being cautious.

I searched his eyes, "Did you miss me?"

He laughed somewhat bitterly, "I missed you way before you left."

"Mike, I–"

"No," he started, "I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable and I'm not really sure what to say to you since I was so fucking stupid when you left me, which you were right to do, but I have never missed someone so much in my life."

He moved to stand only a foot away from me, "I miss you when I'm eating, and when I'm performing, and when I'm driving."

He paused, stepping a little bit closer to me, "I miss you when I'm sleeping..." his lips were hovering over my ear, his middle finger skimming down my side, "...when I'm showering."

I almost fell into his trap, finally snapping back into it, pushing at his chest, "You can't do that! Not this time, Michael."

He tugged on his hair, "I know, I know, I'm sorry. I just– Oh come on, you know me, I'm always horny and seeing you in front of me just makes me think about–"

"Michael, stop rambling."

He hissed, nodding.

"How about coffee? Tomorrow?" I suggested, watching his eyebrows furrow.

"You hate coffee though," he said, confused.

"I've changed, Michael. I think we all have."

I nodded, heading up the stairs. I could hear his steps coming up behind me, making me stop in the middle of the stairs.

I faced him, his face only a few inches from mine.

"By the way," I said, taking a deep breath, "I wrote that note for you. The one Calum found. It was for you."