We Were Young

Happily Forever

   The snow fell softly outside, landing gracefully on the whitewashed sidewalk. Michael and Calum sat in court, Amanda held a smug grin on her face, not knowing what the planned.
"Your honor, this man doesn't deserve how fair my client has been. He is a heartless, uncaring-"
"Objection your honor, this isn't a case, this is childish name calling..."
"Sustained." Her lawyer cleared his throat and picked up a piece of paper off of the desk.
"Michael Clifford filed for this divorce a little over a month ago, however, his wife is three months pregnant. Your honor, it would seem that Mr. Clifford is running from his own responsibilities as a husband and as a father... My client is asking that he pays child support, with absolutely no legal rights to the child." he gave the judge the slip of paper before sitting down.
"Mr. Hood, do you and your client have anything you'd like to say?" She asked, peering down at them quizzically.
"Yes, your honor." Calum stood up and unbutton the front of his suit jacket, winking at Michael before stepping up. "Four months ago, Amanda Clifford left on a 3 month business to London, England.. here, we have a picture of her arriving." He picked up a small remote and clicked the button, showing Amanda in Heathrow Airport. "Now you may be asking yourself, a three month trip four months ago... that's strange, isn't it? I mean, Mrs. Clifford claims she's three months pregnant, but if that's right, then... her husband isn't the father..."
"Objection-"
"Overruled."
"Here's another photo of Amanda Clifford in London, with one of her legal advisers..." he clicked the button again and switched the picture to Amanda and the Lawyer she was sitting with this very moment, kissing infront of a hotel window. Michael felt a blow in his stomach. Even though he was divorcing her.... it still hurt that she was cheating on him. "Your honor, a paternity test will show that Mr. Clifford is not the father of that child and therefore holds no legal obligations to it."
"I see. Anything else you'd like to add?"
'That's everything, your honor," he said, sitting next to Michael.
"Well. On account of the new evidence and the claim, before coming to an official financial agreement in the child, a paternity test must come back as positive. Until we have the results, I don't want to see any of you. Court adjourned." She stood and walked out of the room. Calum began gathering his things quietly.
"That couldn't have gone better, mate," he said happily.
"No, I know. That you, so much. You're really saving my ass here." They stood up and started walking out.
"I've always been the one saving your ass," he laughed, checking his watch.
"Meeting Luke?" Michael asked, looking down.
"Yeah, we're going to lunch with my sister. Hey, you should come."
"What? No, don't want to be a burden."
"Dude, no way. Come on, you're coming. Besides. I want you and Luke on better terms before our wedding. Come on, I'll drive." He said, turning and walking towards his car, not turning to see if Michael was following. He got into the driver seat of his car and smiled when his best friend joined him. They drove quietly to the restaurant and headed inside. Luke and Mali were sitting at a tall table in the bar area.
"Hey, babe," Calum said, wrapping his arms around his fiance's waist from behind. "I asked Mike to tag along... you okay with that?" He whispered. Luke turned and looked at them, nodding.
"Hey, Michael..."
"Hey..." he replied, avoiding his gaze. He was in love with the boy, and he lost him. Luke put his arms around Calum's neck and kissed him roughly before pulling away.
"What was that for?" He laughed, sitting next to him, holding his hand. Luke shrugged.
"I just really missed you..." Michael sat awkwardly next to Mali Koa, trying to avoid Luke's gaze.
~~~

"Oh god, do you remember the time we threw that huge party?" Calum laughed.
"Which one?" Luke and Michael asked together.
"The one where Ashton stood around the girls dorm room handing out fliers and so only a bunch of women showed up.. and Luke you locked yourself up in your room to study, like always, and so we picked the lock and snuck in, but you were asleep?"
"Oh you mean the party where I woke up because I was being thrown into the pool, right, that one. How could I forget." Michael laughed lightly.
"Oh come on, you didn't actually go into the pool..."
"Yeah, because Mike saved me from you and Ashton." Luke smiled at the memory. Mali had left a while ago to go back to work, so it was just the three boys.
"God, we used to have the best time when we were younger," Calum laughed.
"Remember when you introduced Luke and I?" Michael laughed.
"Oh god, we hated each other for a solid year."
"Why did you guys hate each other, like it was kind of an instantaneous thing."
"I thought Luke was stuck up..." Luke just laughed.
"I thought Michael was too cool to be my friend." The three just laughed.
"Yeah, well then you two ended up being inseparable."
"Yeah..." Luke and Michael exchanged a look before both looked away.
"Shit, I'm late for a huge client meeting. I have to go," Calum said. "I'll see you at home, babe," he kissed Luke as he stood up, putting money on the table for lunch.
"Yeah, see ya."
"Michael, uh... Luke will give you a ride. Okay, great. Love you, babe."
"Love you too," Luke said as he ran out.
"So, big client then?"
"He's a partner for the Brangelina divorce... he was hired by Angelina Jolie along with a bunch of other divorce lawyers from different law firms..."
"Wow, that's crazy.."
"Yeah."
"So is it weird? Getting ready to marry a divorce lawyer, I mean." Luke shrugged.
"Not as weird as you'd think. Honestly I thought that he'd be the one who didn't want to get married because of all the crazy couples he meets..."
"What do you mean, he'd be the one?"
"What?"
"You said it as if you don't want to marry him..." Luke looked down at the table quickly. "Do you?"
"I mean... of course I want to marry him,  it's just..."
"What?" Luke sighed and looked up at his old best friend. He forgot how easy it was to talk to him...
"Calum is amazing, and he's easily the best guy I've ever dated, but... I don't know if he's the right guy for me... and I don't see how I'm the right guy for him, I mean he's Calum and I'm... just me... I want him to be happy, but I don't think I can do that for him."
"Bullshit, Luke you're such an amazing person. Calum can see it, and so can I. He loves you, and who could blame him?" Luke stared at Michael for a moment trying to decide what he meant.
"Believe me... he definitely deserves better..."
"I don't think there is better than you," he whispered, looking down. Luke cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Uh, let's go. I'll give you a ride home..." Luke drove to the boy's parents' house without any need for directions. He just remembered. He pulled up to the small yellow house and parked the car.
"Thanks for the ride, and lunch... and uh thanks for talking to me... I've really missed it."
"Me too," Luke admitted, looking over at him. "I really have..." Michael smiled before going to get out. "Michael," Luke said suddenly.
"Yeah?"
"I just... I need you to know that I'm sorry... I wish that I never overreacted. I wish that we had stayed friends..." Michael stared at him for a moment, and before he could talk himself out of it, he did the unthinkable. He leaned in and connected their lips. He expected Luke to pull away and freak out even, but he didn't. He actually leaned into it. The kiss was soft and passionate, fireworks seemed to explode between them. This was the moment they had both dreamed about countless times. Michael pulled away, causing Luke to shudder.
"I've never stopped loving you," Michael whispered, before getting out of the car and running inside. Luke's life was a constant earthquake of emotions, and now he knew whatever he did someone he loved would end up hurt.