My Missing Piece (A Mavin Fan Fiction)

Smile Like You Mean It

Do you ever think too much? Like everything is going swimmingly, but it's quiet and you have time to think about your life, but then you overthink it? I do. I do it a lot. In fact, I'm doing it right now. Gavin and I went back to work today, my mom watching over Lily. We were filming a Let's Watch, actually. Ryan was playing so I was sitting back. Gavin went off because he was doing the podcast.  Jack was home sick. Jeremy was sitting next to me, freaking out as Ryan ran through the game. Geoff was sort of cowering next to Jeremy since we were playing a scary game. I was left to think. I thought about Gavin and how stressed he must be with Lily. He was never good with authority. I thought about my mom and how I pulled her out of whatever she was doing back home to take care of my kid. I thought about Lindsay and how I put her through the stress of child birth for my own good. I thought about Geoff and how I'm constantly stressing him out. I could walk out right now and probably jump off a building and make everyone's life stress free, but I can't now. Now I have a kid. The voices were stronger than a baby. They were stronger than me.

I ran my hands along my pants pocket and felt the shape of my pocket knife I carried around everywhere. One couldn't hurt. "Ryan, as much as I'd like to see you fuck up again, I've gotta take a bathroom break," I blurted. "It's okay bud. You drank like eight things of beer before this. I probably won't pass anyways," Ryan replied as I headed towards the bathroom. I was shaky, I knew it. My hands weren't staying still. I managed to get there without being stopped by anyone. I locked the bathroom door behind me and took out my pocket knife. I pressed the blade against my wrist and slid it across all my old scars. I flinched at the pain, but it honestly wasn't anything I've felt before. I did it twice after that and was about to do it a second time when someone knocked on the door. "Occupied," I called out. I turned on the sink and washed my wrist before cleaning my knife off and shoving it in my pocket. I hid my wrist behind my back and opened the door. "Oh hey Gav. Podcast over already?" He smiled and nodded, "Ryan and the boys ended the video right after you left too. Perfect timing for the two of us. I'm just gonna use the restroom and we can go home, alright?" I nodded, "Sounds good."

I rushed back to the Achievement Hunter office and quickly threw on my jacket. "What's with the jacket, bud? It's like a thousand degrees outside," Geoff said as he walked in behind me and made me jump. I hid my arms behind my back, "Gavin and I were uh- about to leave and I was too lazy to carry it." My voice went higher at the end. Geoff raised an eyebrow at me, "Was that a question?" "Uh, no?" I answered and raised my eyebrow back. Ryan and Jeremy left so it was now just me and Geoff. "Look if you did it again, you can tell me. You're like a son to me," Geoff placed an arm on my shoulder. I couldn't keep a secret from him, honestly.  I looked down though, "I'm sorry." Geoff squeezed my shoulder, "It's okay, Michael. It really is. Be strong for Lily." Gavin came jogging in, "Did I miss something?" Geoff removed his hand from my shoulder, "Man to man talk." I chuckled when Gavin looked hurt, "Why wasn't I invited?" "You aren't a real man," I joked. Gavin frowned and punched me lightly in the arm, "Rude." I kissed his cheek, "Does that make up for it?" Gavin smirked, "A little." Geoff pushed us out the door, "Go home losers. You've got a kid to watch."

Gavin and I went home after that. He started talking about the what happened on the podcast while I was driving, but stopped talking about it, "Hey what's that red stain on your sleeve? It wasn't there before." I glanced at my sleeve and froze. Make an excuse fast, Michael.  "It's uh- Geoff spilled something on it while I was in the bathroom. He- That's what we were talking about when you came in," I was mentally hitting myself for such a terrible excuse. "Oh, will it come out?" Gavin asked. I shrugged. I pulled into our driveway and walked inside with Gavin. "Mom, we're home," I called out. My mom stuck her arm up and I looked down to see her on the living room floor with Lily and a camera. "What are you doing?" Gavin asked. "I'm trying to get her to walk," my mom answered. "Don't do anything until I get back," I said and rushed off to the bedroom. I covered my cuts and put on a grey long sleeve shirt and some sleep pants. Gavin was sitting on the floor next to my mom so I sat down next to them. My mom was trying to stand Lily up and have her walk towards Gavin, who was holding the camera.

"Come here, Lily. Come to daddy," I smiled and held out my arms. My mom lifted Lily up and she started to walk towards me. My mom looked surprised and Gavin followed her with the camera. She fell into my arms and I bounced her up and down. "How did you get her to do it so quickly? I've been trying for hours," my mom let out a yawn. I smiled and shrugged, "I'm magical." Gavin chuckled and handed the camera back to my mom. He came over and snuggled up next to me. "I love you, Micoo," Gavin cooed. "I love you too, Gavvy," I answered back. My mom said goodnight to us and went off to bed. I stood up, along with Gavin next to me and Lily in my arms, and carried her to her crib. I rocked her a bit before laying her down so she could sleep. Gavin grabbed my hand and led me to the bedroom. Gavin changed into pajamas and laid down in the bed. I curled up next to him. He wrapped his arms around me from behind. "What did you use?" Gavin's sleepy voice asked. "What do you mean?" I asked back. Gavin sighed, "On your arm." How did he know?  "I didn't use anything?" I questioned. Gavin just sighed again. "I'm sorry," I muttered. Gavin just snuggled up closer to me and kissed my neck.

[A/N: Off schedule chapter, oh no! Does that mean something big is happening? Of course it does, but what ever could it be? Something big. Just make sure you have tissues if you get emotional quickly. Double update tomorrow, too. I think they're going to be the last chapters before the *loud gasp*  sequel! Yes, I might be making a sequel. If I do end up doing the sequel it's gonna be called 'A Finished Puzzle' ! Comment if you think a sequel is a good idea please!!!]