✓ Wake Up, Mike ⇔ Mileven {1st - "Wake Up, Mike" Trilogy}

Thirty Two

This chapter has me in tears, and not sad ones. Good luck💝
Posting this chapter in honor of Mileven day

Mike.

El climbed into bed before I did, so I rushed over and joined her. She smiled widely, the biggest she's smiled in a while.

"What're you smiling about?" I asked, and a smile formed on my face, as well. Seeing her happy just brings me such a warm feeling.

"You're here, with me. I'm not sleeping alone." She looked at me and even her eyes were smiling. She looked so insanely pretty, I almost didn't respond.

"I'm here, of course. As long as you want me." I nodded, and she cuddled up into me. She held me tighter than she used to, but it wasn't in a bad way. It made me feel even better.

"Mike, you really should've tried," She whispered, reaching for my hand. I moved my arm, bringing it closer to her, and she began to play with my fingers. She does that when she's nervous to tell me something.

"I know, El. I regret it more than you think," I whispered back, and she looked up at me with worried eyes.

"What if I get scared? What do I do?" She sounded so horribly sad, it hurt.

"You can always tell Will, he'll help you," I spoke with an uneasy voice, and she looked down, away from my eyes. "Or you can keep Will's radio next to the bed and talk to me whenever you need. Just start talking, I'll wake up. I've done it before."

"What if the signal is bad?" She spoke slowly, obviously contemplating the words. It was cute, I love when she says more difficult words. She isn't always positive if she gets the meaning right, so she talks softer and slower.

"If you try to reach me and it doesn't work, I'll still hear you try. I'll just sneak out and come over," I spoke like it was no big deal, and it wasn't. Not for me, at least.

I reached up and started lightly playing with her hair, another habit I've gained. Sometimes we'd lay down in my room and just escape reality for a little while. I'd play with her hair and she loved it. She still loves it, I think it calms her down. Either that or it just reminds her that I'm there and I care about how comfortable she is.

"Thank you, Mike," She randomly whispered after a long silence, and I stopped playing with her hair so I could grab her hand. I laced our fingers together, squeezing lightly.

"For what?" I asked, truly not knowing what she'd be thanking me for. She sat up a bit, propped up on one arm, and looked at me with a very emotional expression.

"Everything, thank you for everything," She whispered, her eyes slightly misty.

"Hey, don't cry. I'll always be here, El. No matter when you need me, I'm here. I love you," I assured, sitting up and pulling her into a hug. She cried a little bit, and I just held her.

"I love you, too, Mike," She finally whispered back, pulling away and looking at me. She wasn't too far away and it was just like that moment in the cafeteria. My stomach went insane and my brain just told me what to do.

I was slower this time, not wanting to scare her. I leaned in and she seemed to know what was going on, because she followed along. We met in the middle, it was short and sweet. It was perfect, because it was with her.

And it was us, in that moment.
Nothing but us.

-

Crying. Crying. Sobbing.

edit, 12-16-18: ^^wow I used to be such Mileven trash and now I don't even ship it *whip*