Dreams On Fire || ✓

Chapter 18

Date: 19th September, 2016.

Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad. Sad.

UNEDITED

The award night had gone considerably well for both- Luke and Michael. This is that type of memory that Michael would relive until he ceased to exist.

Michael was cloud nine but at the same time, he was extremely worried because as seconds ticked by, Luke got paler and it was difficult for him to keep his eyes open. When he spoke, his words come out as slurred and jumbled way.

It was agonising for Michael, to be honest. He was witnessing his best friend- who was always cheerful and upbeat deteriorate into nothingness in front of his eyes and he couldn't do anything about it.

Luke was one of the strongest person he knew and seeing him this way made Michael deflate. All he could think about was how he did not want the blonde haired boy to disappear.

Currently, both of them were sitting in the front seats of Michael's Rover, going back to the latter's suburban home.

"Michael?"

The elder of the two hummed back in question, urging for Luke to go on.

"You know I love you, right?"

"Yeah, Luke, I love you too."

"I cannot tell you how much you mean to me, I cannot tell you how much the band means to me."

"Why're you saying all of this right now?" Michael questioned, his voice wavering.

"Both of us know I don't have much time left."

"Don't say that." Michael retorted harshly.

"What? You know its true."

"Whatever."

"Please tell Ash and Cal I love them. Tell them that I'm forever grateful for they made my dream come true and you Mikey, thank you for believing in us and pushing us towards success. Thank you for telling us that we will make it big one day and oh God, we did. I'm so thankful for the three of you in my life."

"I don't know what to say." Michael answered truthfully, tears flowing from his eyes.

"Don't say anything. I just appreciate you a lot. Always remember that."

"Thanks, Luke."

"It's all good. Just remember that whenever the times get tough, I love you and I believe in you. You're so fucking amazing, bub. You're extremely strong and you deserve the world, don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

[ AN// This goes for all of you too ^ I believe in you :)) ]

"I really love you."

"I know and I do too."

"Why does this feel like goodbye?"

"It is not, promise. One day, you'll see me again, not too soon hopefully. I want you to live a long life. Get married, have kids, and just live."

Luke's eyelids started getting heavier and he struggled to keep them open, let alone talk.

"Live for both of us, Michael."

"I will, I swear." Michael reached over and grabbed Luke's hand, squeezing it.

"Hey, do you remember that time?"

"Mhm?"

"The one where both of us were in the pool and Ashton had my stuffed penguin and when he 'drowned' Ashton had given him a CPR?"

"Haha, yeah. I do. He there that back in the pool then."

Luke weakly chucked, he remembered each and every moment all of them had spent together. It was hard to forget when they had been the best moments.

"And do you remember that time when Ash and stole Cal's teddybear?"

"Oh, yeeeah. Oh man, I miss those keeks."

"Yeah, me too."

"Oh oh oh, do you remember that time when Cal and I danced to-"

"Luke?" Michael looked over to where Luke was supposed to be but instead, there was nothing.

"Luke?" Michael's voice cracked this time, tears starting to form in his eyes.

Luke was nowhere to be seen.

In a state of panic, Michael pulled over on the side of the road.

"I love you, Mikey." He heard in a distance and all he could feel is his heart breaking.

"I love you too, Luke, just come back."

He got no answer and the soft cries turned into sobs.

"If this is some kind of joke, Luke, I swear to God-" He couldn't finish his sentence, his voice hoarse and his eyes red.

"Luke!" There was no answer this time too and without shame, Michael broke down.

How did his best night turn out to be so miserable- so wretched?

Michael sat there, in his car, crying over the loss of his angel. He cried without boundaries and the tears flowed down like the rain in a storm.

They wouldn't stop.

Michael cried until the sun came up and when he was finally done crying, he looked terrible. His eyes were red, his cheeks were blotchy and red. His hair were dishevelled and clothes wrinkled. His knuckles were bloody because he had punched the steering wheel more than the times he could count.

Michael was in pain.

Nothing could take the pain away, not even his favourite cookie dough ice cream; not even alcohol.

He drank alcohol to forget Luke but it was six in the morning and the only name Michael had forgotten was his own.

He felt like he was aching all over. His chest burned because his heart wasn't at ease and all he wanted is for his soul mate to be back.

Michael didn't know what to do, what to feel, where to go.

He had fallen into pieces and there was no one to save him.

Michael had no idea what to do with his life. He had nobody, he was left all alone and he didn't like it.

Luke had grown flowers inside Michael in places he didn't know existed, and now that Luke was gone and those flowers were grown, Michael found it hard to breathe.

fin