Can You Keep A Secret?

Chapter One Hundred and Ten

-Mikey's POV-

One day before Liv and I left for New York. One day, I mouthed, my lips curling up into a smile as I did. The room was filled with sunshine, and I felt good. I felt happy. It was also the last day before our break, so the room looked like it had been hit with a tornado – Clothes were strewn everywhere and half-packed bags rested on beds as the others worked to pack up their things.

In a burst of excitement and trying to make time move faster, I'd finished yesterday, so I lay in bed for a few more moments, appreciating the general cheery mood in the room. It felt a lot better than the last time we'd been leaving to go home, and for that, I was thankful.

I watched the pandemonium of packing saved for last minute unfold while I waited for Liv to arrive – The plan was for us to go out for breakfast, and then she would spend the rest of the day with Andy. "Just to talk over some things before we go to New York," she'd explained. It was clear to me now that our love was something to be cherished and treated fragiley, so I didn't protest. After all, what was one day when I'd be getting to spend the next week with her in one of the most enchanting places in the world?

I felt as if we were finally moving on and recovering from everything that had happened to us – Brooklyn had recovered from his illness, although he still seemed a little wobbly on his feet. I could imagine that he probably needed the break more than any of us – I thought back to after he'd just thrown up, and he was crying and saying that he wanted his mum, he wanted to go home. Blair hadn't even let us call Claire, emphasizing how terrible it would look with Brooklyn having just been bruised up and begging to go home. He looked a lot better now, at the very least – I think we all kind of looked to Brook as an emblem of resilience.

Jack was very talkative, using words to cover up the fear of a repeat of last time, or maybe to collect this good feeling so he wouldn't forget what we have when we were separated again. I knew that he'd savor the time spent with his family, but I really hoped that he wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Because, this truly was amazing – Throughout it all, we had stuck together. The past two months had done their worst, and at time, it had seemed as if we wouldn't make it out alive and intact, and yet, here we were – All in one piece. Maybe a little tired, maybe a little weary, but all the stronger for it, I was sure.

Rye was about to go home on his own – He'd insisted that he'd be fine, that it was an important step in exposure therapy, that he would reach out if anything went wrong. I was worried for him, but I think that he'd evolved the most out of all of us. He was less afraid to show weakness, even when everyday things felt like a battle to him. My chest surged with pride for one of my oldest friends – I would miss him on vacation, but, holy shit, did I need one.

The only other one of us who was packed and ready to go was Andy, who sat twiddling with his thumbs, looking a little worse for the wear. I checked the time – Liv was due any minute, but I probably had enough time to talk to him quickly. I slid in beside him, thankful that he had been willing to forgive me. We sat in silence for a moment before I spoke.

"Are you gonna be alright?" I asked, meaning now and the day and the week and in general.

He cleared his throat before saying, "I'm not sure." He turned to face me, looking a little tired as he said, "But I'll make it through." They weren't the most confident words that he'd ever said, but I knew that he meant them as we embraced in a one-armed hug, and then the door creaked open and Liv walked in. My stomach exploded into a flurry of butterflies.

She greeted the others first – She checked up on Brooklyn and he did the same for her. She wished Rye good luck on his travels and made small talk with Jack, and then nodded to Andy – Whatever they had to say, it would be done later. And then, finally, she turned to me. I'd had this goofy, half-cocked grin perched upon my face as I'd watched her, enchanted by how beautiful she was, and excited for all of the time that we'd be spending together. I breathed in the sweet smell of her perfume before kissing her, and the room broke out into hoots and hollers.

A new feeling lodged itself between my heart and ribcage. It was light and airy, like sunshine, lighting me up from the inside out. It was freeing. It was exhilarating. It was hope. And maybe I was a little cautious to believe it, but...I had a feeling that things were finally looking up.