Deadline≫hemmings a.u

4.0

We were nearing LA now, although it seemed like none of us knew why. It wasn't the smartest idea, heading straight into the quarters of the man who wanted us quite possibly dead. But we didn't know what else to do.

Michael tried to fill the empty spaces Luke left as best as he could, the way any good best friend would have tried to do. The first night I spent without Luke, Michael rushed in, just as I settled into bed, trying to get used to all of the empty space that surrounded me. He had his laptop on and open, cradled in his arms as he plopped himself down next to me on the bed.

"Michael what are you doing?" I peered up at him and then at his laptop, not in the mood to watch him play video games all night.

Michael smiled as he began typing something into the search box. "It's not what I am doing, it's what we are doing."

"Well, what is that?" I raised an eyebrow questioningly at him as he set the laptop on his lap so that we could both see.

"Netflix," he answered, just as the red letters were played across the screen above the selection of movies displayed.

We ended up watching movies all night, Michael picking mainly comedies to keep it lighthearted. We started with Adventureland, then The Benchwarmers, and finally most of 50 First Dates before we passed out.

And that's how Michael started unintentionally  rooming with me.

The next night, after forcing me to watch more movies and play a few games until we were dead tired, Michael got up to leave, only to find that Luke had purposely locked the door that joined our rooms.

"It's locked." Michael stated, standing at the door as if he didn't know what to do next.

"Can't you unlock it?" I yawned, settling back against the pillows.

Michael frowned, scratching his head. "I think if he locked it, he must not want me in there."

I felt the corners of my lips tug down into a frown that mirrored Michael's. Was Luke pushing Michael away because he was hanging around me? He seemed fine with Michael earlier today when we were driving around, aimlessly, slowly getting closer to LA. It was like we were waiting for something to happen, and we all knew it.

"Well," I sighed, pushing the thought out of my head. I didn't want to think about Luke. That was the whole purpose of Michael hanging around me, to get Luke off of my mind. "You can have that bed all to yourself."

Michael nodded, setting his laptop on the counter as he turned on the TV before throwing himself onto the bed facedown.

"Do you mind if we leave the TV on?" he asked, his voice muffled by a pillow. "I usually like to listen to whatever's on 'till I fall asleep."

I smiled slightly at this. Calum was the same way. "No, it's totally fine."

"You sure?" Michael asked, climbing under the covers of his bed. "I can try to remember to turn it off before I knock out, or you can always turn it off if you're up after I fall asleep."

"No, really, Mike, it's fine," I assured him. "Calum did that too."

Michael was quiet for a moment, looking over at me from where he lay in his blanket burrito, eyes thoughtful.

"What?" I questioned him, curious as to what was going on in his head.

"I'm just sorry again, Mel," he frowned. "For all of this. We didn't mean for any of this shit to happen to you."

I sighed, casting my eyes on the ceiling. I shrugged after a moment. "Can't change it now."

"If it makes you feel any better, you've really changed my view on this whole thing." Michael said, his words catching my interest.