Heart Out [Michael Clifford]

43. Now

CHAPTER FORTY:

Today was the day that I would be seeing Michael after all of these years. Since our break up, Beverly and I had moved into separate rooms in the hotel, and had not spoken since. I walked around my hotel room in search of an outfit that would fit the occasion.

I finally decided on wearing a black leather skirt that covered my belly button, with a black crop top and my only pair of stockings that were not ripped. I looked around at all of the clothing items sprawled on the bed, trying to figure out what to pair the outfit with. I pulled on an oversized denim jacket, which originally belonged to Michael, when there was a knock at the door.

I groaned, but made my way to the slab of wood, assuming that it was just housekeeping. I twisted the doorknob and yanked the door open, only to reveal Beverly on the other side. We stared at each other for a while, she scanned my body before looking back up at my face, while my eyes were focused on her belly.

"Combat boots." She said suddenly. "It will look good." I nodded instead of opening my mouth. "I'm leaving today. Going back to London."

"Why?"

"I need to figure myself out. Besides, my parents will be happy. They've always wanted a grandchild." She said. It was true. Her parents were not supportive of our relationship.

"I don't think that your parents will be happy about you sleeping around." I said, not realising that my words were harsh. She flinched, and I mumbled my apology. An eternity of silence fell between us after that.

"So this is goodbye then?" I asked, to break the silence.

"Yeah." She said in a whisper, tears already beginning to form in her greyish-green eyes. Before any of us could think, we were in a tight embrace, her blond hair tangled with my chestnut locks. A million thoughts ran through my mind in that moment. We had been through so much together, and this was the final goodbye.

"I love you, Alex." She sobbed.

"I love you, too, Bev." I responded. Though I knew that I did not mean it, I said it because that was what she would have wanted to hear.

Finally we pulled away from each other, her face tearstained. I caught a tear with the pad of my thumb and wiped it away. She smiled through her tears and said,

"Good bye, Alexis."

And I responded with, "Good bye, Beverly."

I watched her walk away from me, taking slow and careful steps. I felt the tears in my own eyes, but quickly blinked them away before they could escape. Once she was down the hall, she turned back to me to deliver her last words to me.

"Good luck with Michael." She said.

"Good luck with the baby." I said.

And that was the end of Beverly and I.

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(picture, for the last time, is Alex and Bev)