Publicity • mgc

26. The Morning After

PLEASE READ: I couldn't do it. I tried writing good smut for y'all but it all ended up like absolute crap. so instead of disappointing myself and you with a terrible chapter, I've decided to skip over it and double update instead. I'll post the new chapter once I wake up. love, Mari.

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It happened very fast. Tangled bodies underneath silk bedsheets, plenty of gentle kisses, and lots of soft murmurs. The night was sweet and everything they could've asked for, and they wouldn't take anything back.

"I never thought we'd be this way." Michael mumbled, staring out the window of the room. They were dressed now, Michael wearing boxers and Karina in his shirt. She was cuddled up against him, breathing softly and drinking in all the happiness in the room. "It was always you and Ash."

Karina pulled the covers up to her shoulders, sinking down further and kissing Michael on the chest. It was dark, maybe five o'clock in the morning, but they had no idea. They hadn't moved in a while. She looked up at him, the little light coming from the moon shining on his face. She could clearly see his eyes, bright green and bold. She closed her own eyes, leaning closer and touching their noses together. "I love you." She whispered, kissing his button nose and nuzzling her face in his neck.

Michael froze for a few seconds, loosening his hold and slightly pushing Karina off of him. "You what?" He asked, watching her give him a confused look.

Karina grew embarrassed. "....I love you." She repeated softly, her eyes watering. Was Ashton wrong? Michael didn't love her?

Michael felt his heart thumping, he could hear it as well. He hadn't been in love since he was sixteen, and now four years later he found someone totally worth his time. He grinned, scaring Karina further. "Say it again." He asked, laying down on his back and grabbing Karina's waist. She squealed as he lifted her up, positioning her in his lap so she was straddling him. "Come on! Say it again!" Michael laughed, Karina's smile growing wider.

She was growing shy on him, biting her lip and covering her face as she tried not to laugh. "Babe!" Michael called, tugging at her wrists. She now had pink cheeks and Michael had to resist the urge to attack her in kisses. He'd never seen her shy before, she was always so open and shameless.

"Mike, stop." Karina whined, her face hot and her stomach full of butterflies.

"Oh my god, I can't believe you're real." Michael boasted, tucking his hands behind his head and staring up at Karina. "I love you, even more." He loosely said, pretending to be as casual as ever when in fact he was screaming on the inside. There was no doubt that he was completely head over heels for her.

Karina sighed happily, leaning down and cupping Michael's cheeks. She squeezed them for a bit, giggling to herself. Her eyes then traveled to her broken hand and her grin faltered. It didn't make any of the sèx awkward, because the thought of a broken hand flew out the window when she had Michael's lips on her body, but now that she put her eyes on it, thoughts of Ashton and Nina came back.

Michael noticed the look on her face and immediately took control. He grabbed her broken hand, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it softly. "It's just you and I. That's all that matters."

Karina frowned. "But what about-"

Michael interrupted. "No. It's just us from now on. Stop worrying about others and start thinking about your own happiness."

Karina sighed. She couldn't help it, Ashton was very important to her. Her fans and her reputation was very important to her, Michael was Ashton's friend and once word gets out that Michael and Karina are a thing, everyone's going to talk.

How did Ashton and Karina move on so fast?

How could Michael betray his best friend?

Is it awkward?

Who was better, Karina or Nina?

There were endless questions that everyone would want answered, but the worst one would be: was/is this a publicity stunt? The question that cannot be answered unless you're looking to get sued. The truth won't be known until everything is over, until 5sos and Reflect get old and are dropped by their label. The truth will always be within.

Let's not forget the endless bullying towards Karina. She already gets it enough, it'll only worsen.

"I won't let anything happen to you. I'll drop everything for you the second you begin to feel bad about yourself." Michael promised, intertwining their fingers. "I'll hold you, I'll comfort you, I'll listen to you, I'll do anything for your happiness."

Karina didn't even realize that she had a few tears streaming down her face. She sniffed, Michael reaching up to wipe her cheeks with his thumbs. "Why are you crying?" He softly asked.

She shrugged. "I've never felt this important." She sighed, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't know." She shook her head. "This sounds like you're about to ask for my hand in marriage." Karina joked, chuckling lightly.

Michael snorted. "Would that be a bad thing to do?" He teased.

"Considering I'm not even your girlfriend yet, it would be."

Michael nodded, realizing that he really hadn't asked the question. And he wasn't going to, just to tease and annoy her for a bit. He'll do it before they part their ways to spend some time at home.

They spent the rest of the morning in bed, tossing around and talking about anything that came up. It was relaxing for both of them, kind of like therapy. Karina never knew it was Michael who she needed, and Michael didn't think his best friends ex would be the one.

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Again I'm so sorry I let you guys down rip me in half for lying to you pls I'm hurt

~Mari