My Famous Brother's Best Friend

Sympathy

I left Michael's, suddenly feeling tired. Something about seeing him after all this time exhausted me. We left on bad terms, and now that I'm back, I don't know how to feel around him.

Calum and Luke were still in the driveway, Calum now sitting in the passenger seat.

I slid into the backseat, "Thanks for waiting."

"That was quick," Luke smirked, "No kissing today?"

I rolled my eyes, "Too soon, Lukey."

He looked back at me, "You know... I kinda missed you annoying me everyday."

We drove to Calum's, who also got his own place. He thought it was time to get his own flat, his building only 4 blocks from mine. Or at least, my old building. If I ever want to live there again, I'm really going to have to work things out with Lydia.

"I've never seen your flat!"

He shrugged, "You wanna come up? I can drive you back to Luke's later."

Luke nodded in approval. I kissed his cheek, "Tell mum I'll go see her later."

We rode the elevator up to the 27th floor in silence, him only speaking once the entire way up.

"I'm apartment 16, on the left."

He slid his key card into the door, pushing the door only for it to stay closed.

He seemed nervous, "Sometimes it doesn't work the first time."

I smiled, "It's fine, Cal."

He pushed the door again, the door sliding open easily. He motioned for me to walk in  ahead of him, thanking him as I stepped in.

It was spotless, not a single thing on his counter. The living room was perfected, each pillow placed and puffed as if it were an ikea photoshoot.

"Calum, do you have an obsession with cleaning or something?" I said jokingly, slinging my bag and my coat on the hanger.

"I don't spend much time here," he shrugged, "I'm usually just at Ashton's or Luke's, sometimes even Michaels."

I wiped a finger across to counter top, minimal dust collecting on the tip, "You and Michael are friends again?"

He followed after me, "Well, when you left, we both kind of needed someone. We were the only ones who understood what we were going through. It just kind of happened."

"How was it resolved?"

He looked hesitant to tell me, reluctantly muttering, "We made a deal that we were both done with you."

My eyes finally met his, "Done with me?"

He chuckled, a certain bitterness hidden in his voice, "Madison, don't act like you didn't know."

"Cal–"

"We both loved you so fucking much. You played with us back and forth. You never chose just one of us. When you left, we just had to pick up the pieces. It hurt. A whole fucking lot. But we moved on from it."

I watched him step up to me, finally saying what I've been waiting to say to him, "So you're over me?"

He smirked, "Not even close."

I blinked wildly, "I don't know what to do."

He smiled sweetly, lifting his thumb to rub my jaw gently, "Just pick. Him or me. Only consider your feelings, take your time."

He leaned down, lightly pecking my lips.

I was going to push him away, but he was gone as soon as he was there. He turned away, heading to the stairs, "I'm just going to go change."

"Cal?"

He turned.

"Do you think it'd be stupid to forgive Michael for what he did?"

He gave me a knowing look, "I can't answer that for you, sweetheart. Only you can."

----

Michael had his elbows leaning against the table, the sixth silent minute approaching us. He sipped on his iced coffee as he stared into my eyes, his face almost playful. It was kind of nice to have silence when so much was flying through my mind.

What am I supposed to do? When I love two men who love me back, who do I choose? The fun-love-of-my-life boy who cheated on me with a girl I despise? Or the boy that I used to try to forget about the other when I was in pain? Who do I love more?

"Hey," Michael cut into my messy thoughts, "if you keep staring at me like that I might need to call a psych ward."

I blinked, "I-I'm sorry, I– I didn't realize."

He gave me an odd look, as if he were trying to read my eyes like he used to.

"What are you confused about?" he sighed, smiling lightly.

"I don't know what to do."

He gave me another look, urging me on.

I huffed, "About everything! With Lydia and Cal and... you."

The corners of his mouth faltered for a moment, "You know, I never sincerely apologized for what I did to you."

He took my hand in his, "Being drunk is not an excuse for what I did, and I did a shitty thing. A terrible terrible terrible thing and I'm suffering for it everyday. I loved you more than my heart could hold. I would die for you. I am so sorry for everything I put you through–"

This is what I needed to hear. This is what jogged my thoughts. It was Michael. I had to choose Michael.

"M-Michael, That's–"

"– but I can't get back together with you."

What?!

"What?!" I whispered.

"I worked things out with Penelope," he smiled weakly, "Madison, I'm sorry."

"No," I shook my head, hoping tears wouldn't flow, "it's okay, I'm glad you're happy. With Penelope. I hope you two last."

I stood from the table, pulling my bag from the back of the chair.

"Where are you–"

"I just have to go, Mikey. I'm sorry."