Face Down (m.c)

Chapter One

I reach my arm over and wince in pain; I grab my phone and unlock it. I quickly dial the number I knew by heart and pray for an answer. I hope the answer would come quick. I didn't know how much time I actually had. After two short rings my prayers are answered and I hear the voice of my best friend cut through the loud silence.

"Lu?" Michael's soft voice came through the speaker.

"Mike..." I choke out a sob.

"Lucy... What happened?" He asks, I could tell he was getting angrier as time passed.

"Mikey it happened again." I say and let out another sob. My head was spinning and I was in a lot of pain. I wince as I try to sit up, but decide to just lay there because it hurts too much.

"Luc, I am on my way. Give me ten minutes. Want me to stay on the phone?" I could hear some muffled noises on the other line; I hope I wasn't interrupting his time with the guys. I nod my head answering the question even though I know he can't see me.

"Ye-ah." My voice cracks as I try to answer the simple question. "Michael, please hurry." I say and feel my eyes start to drift shut.

"Don't close your eyes baby girl." Michael speaks softly, I hear him start the car in the background.

"I'm not..." I lie and hope he can't tell.

"Don't you dare lie to me Lucy." He talks and I let out a huff. "I am on my way, keep your eyes open for just a little while longer baby. I am almost there."

"Okay. It hurts mike." I say and wince as I bring my hand to touch my stomach.

"I know love; I am right around the corner, just hang on a couple more minutes." I could hear him mumble a soft 'fuck' and then hear the sound of a honking horn. I let out a soft chuckle imagining him behind the wheel of his car getting frustrated with the car in front of him. "Don't laugh at me!" he exclaims, I could tell he was trying to get my mind off of the current situation. I smile and continue to wait for him. "Alright, I am here and I am headed up."

"You have the key right?" I ask to double check even though I knew the answer.

"Of course, I never go anywhere without it." He says and I could hear him fumbling with the metal trying to get the necklace off. Sure Michael wasn't much of a jewelry kind of guy, but once I moved into my apartment with my boyfriend, Chris, I gave Michael a key and he put it on a chain and wears it everywhere.

"Okay I am going to hang up now," he starts "I am right outside the door. I will be in, in less than a minute." He hangs up and I hear the door to my apartment open. I move my head slightly to look at him. He rushes over to me and bends down at my side. "Hey darling." He says and moves the hair from my face.

"Hi." I mumble softly.

"Shh. It's okay; you don't have to say anything." He says and picks me, carrying me bridal style to the car. "Let's get you to my apartment and cleaned up." He says and puts me in the front seat of the car and buckles me up. He then gets in the driver's seat and heads in the direction of his apartment. When we get to Michael's apartment, I am hit with the realization that when I called Mikey he was most likely in the middle of hanging out with the other guys. Pretty much every Friday night they guys have a guy's night where they watch movies or play video games over pizza and beer.

"Mikey... I'm so sorry." I look down as he helps me out of car and he brings me in his arms again.

"For what Lu?" he asks and looks down at me curiously and begins to carry me into his shared apartment.

"I interrupted your guy time." I say and lean my head against his chest. As I breathed in, I took in his scent. He smelt like mint and cologne, with a subtle touch of laundry soap. He felt like home.

"I would miss guy time in a heartbeat, if it meant taking care of you." He spoke softly as he walked into his apartment. I felt the heat rise to my cheeks, but it soon faded as I am hit with the remembrance of the pain I was in.

Michael carried me to the bathroom and set me on the bathroom sink as he went to the bathtub and turned on the water letting it get hot. It was at that moment that I got a good look at the damage done. Surprisingly, not much happened to my face, just a busted lip. I sighed and looked down at my lap not able to look at myself in the mirror any longer.

"Stay right here, I will be right back." He said and kissed my forehead before walking out of the bathroom. I kept in my place on the sink. Moments later Michael returned with a change of clothes. "Alright let's get you cleaned up." He said and picked up the hem of my t shirt. I blushed and shoved his hand away. "I won't do anything I swear, you just need to get cleaned up and then you can get to bed" He looked up at me and I could see the sincerity in his eyes. He stripped me of my clothes and helped me into the bathtub. Every time I moved I could feel the pain shooting through my nerves. As I sat in the tub I looked down at the bruises and old scars that littered my body. I felt Michael grab my hand. "It's okay, you are still beautiful. Scars remind us who we are." I give him a small nod as he starts to wash my hair.

After I finish, Mikey helps me out of the tub and wraps a towel around me.

"I am going to go make you a cup of tea and leave you to change." I again just give Mikey a small nod too tired to make verbal conversation. After he leaves I slip on the clothes he has for me. I leave the wet towel on the sink, knowing one of the boys would move it to the laundry room. I slowly limp my way to the kitchen to find Mikey, but I stop short when I hear hushed whispers coming from the kitchen.

"This is the worst I have ever seen it guys, she was covered in bruises that were already forming." I heard Michael share with the boys; I didn't really mind it because they all knew it had been happening.

"Man, what are we going to do? She can't keep letting this happen." Ashton adds.

"I don't know what to do... I will just keep going to get her every time she needs me." Mikey replies.

"You can't keep putting your life aside Michael. I know she is your best friend, and the situation she is in sucks, but you have a life to live too Mike." Calum states. I walk in before Michael, or anyone else has the time to reply.

"I just poured your tea." Michael says and hands me the cup. I take the cup and take small sips. "Let's get you into bed." He says and guides me back to his bedroom. I lay down and Michael covers me with his soft blankets. He kisses my forehead and whispers goodnight before I hear him walk out of the room and head across the hall to shower. I fall asleep in the warm embrace of the clean sheets with dreams of happier times.

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New Michael Story. I hope you like it! Please share with your friends and let me know what you think!
~Ray