Musically Problematic

Chapter 55: Moral Support

With that she hangs up, leaving me with Michael's silent phone up to my ear, not knowing whether to pass on her message or not. I pull the phone away from my ear and hand it back to Mike.

"She had to go cook dinner, she told me to tell you that she loves you."

"I love her too, bro...I love her too."

Michael's POV:

"Wanna play FIFA, we have to include Mali though...unfortunately."

"Sure, she sucks at it anyway so we can get some sort of satisfaction from beating her."

We play FIFA until it's like midnight and I have to leave.

***

After breakfast, I'm sitting on my couch looking around at my stuff and trying to decide what I could possibly take when I move in with Sophie. I go back inside to see my parents.

"Mum, I'm moving in with Sophie soon. I need help packing."

"After how you spoke to your mother and me last night, I don't think you deserve any help. Move in with whoever you want but we won't be helping you, not without a proper apology anyway."

"I am really sorry about last night, I was angry at Calum and I took it out on you guys and that was wrong. I am really sorry about that."

"It's gonna take more than that, Michael. Plus you're only saying it because I told you to, no one on tour with you would accept you talking to them like that, so don't assume we are. Grow up, Michael, pack your stuff yourself and start being responsible for your own actions."

"I am trying to, but it's not always my fault. I'm fighting demons inside me and that's why I'm getting help from a therapist, so I can get my life together. But fine, we'll say it is my own fault, I'll be moving out to save you the trouble of dealing with my problems anymore."

I storm back out into the granny flat. I pull out my suit case and throw my clothes in it annoyed, before I slide down to the floor and start crying. I know I have problems, and I'm trying to get help so I don't take it out on others like I did last night and have so many other times before. My phone starts ringing, I see that it's Sophie so I decline. She's dealt with my breakdowns so many other times recently, I can't talk to her this time. She calls again, and again so I decide to answer her. I take a deep breath to try and hide the fact that I've been crying from her.

"Hey, babe."

"Hey Mike, your mum called me and told me what your dad said. How are you doing?"

"I have to start dealing with my problems myself, I can't be relying on you or anyone else."

"That's only partly true, I'm here for you and as long as you're there for me...We can and will lean on each other."

"Do you still want me to move in, or am I too much trouble?"

"Of course I still want you to move in, I can keep a better eye on you then; no more breakdowns without me by your side to help you through it. You're not too much trouble, Mikey. You keep me guessing but the strange thing is...I really like that. There's no knowing how you'll react to things and that's scary sometimes, but also exciting."

"I know, I'm difficult to live with and everything, I'll understand if you tell me the truth."

"Obviously not, because that was the truth. Do you need me to drive to Riverstone and drag you back here with me, to prove that I really want you to move in?"

"I'd love that...But I can't ask you to do that for me, you have better things to be doing than dealing with me."

"There's nothing better that I could be doing, than helping you. How about I drive there, help you pack, and then we drive back here together once your stuff is packed?"

"Sounds perfect, I'll see you soon?"

"Sure, see you soon. Love you."

"I love you too, to the moon and back."

***

I hear a knock at my door, and then Sophie comes in, bearing pizza.

"Am I dreaming? This is exactly what I need right now, baby."

"I figured."

She comes over to me and takes a seat on the floor beside me, placing the pizza in front of us. I wrap my arm around her waist and quickly kiss her cheek before opening the box and grabbing a slice. Once the pizza is gone, we stay cuddled up together on the floor; her head on my shoulder, my head on her head, arms around each other. I love this; the feeling of being protected by her. After a while my legs start to cramp up, so I untangle myself from her and stand up.

"We aren't gonna need dinner now, so why don't we make this bed useful for something other than sleeping. Just before I move out..."

"Or we could start packing your stuff for when you move in with me."

"Fine...have it your way. Get up and let's get started."

"It's your stuff, why do I need to get up? I'm just here for moral support."

"Oh, is that all you're here for? You're the best, babe."

"Oh, I know I am."

"Please, actually help me."

"Fine...Take all your clothes out of that suit case, fold them, and then put them back in the suit case neatly. Is that helpful enough, for you?"

"No, I mean physically help me. Like get up off your ass and help me fold my clothes."

"It's your clothes, and you're the one that messed them up. I might give you a little help eventually, and maybe even give you a little treat once you're done...but you have to at least start it yourself, first."

"Fine, but at least give me some background music...the guitar's beside the couch."

"Oh, by background music you mean you want me to actually play. I was just gonna choose some good songs..."

"No...play for me, Sophie."

"Alright, alright...give me a second, and the guitar since you're already up."

"Ugh, you're so lazy."

"Says you...now give me the guitar and let's get started."

***

It's really late when I finally finish and I noticed a while ago that the music had stopped. I straighten up my sheets and then set my eyes on a peacefully, yet uncomfortable-looking Sophie. I carefully take my guitar off her and lean it up against the couch, before lifting her and laying her on my bed. So much for helping and then my treat for finishing, but what better treat could I ask for, then having her here with me. I go shower and brush my teeth quickly before joining her on my bed for a much needed and deserved sleep.