drunk // m.c [a.u]

t e n

The sky had lost it’s pinky color in favor of dark hues as the pair walks out of the tattoo shop hand in hand. “So, do you like food?” Rose smiles at Michael from the driver’s seat of her red beetle.

            “Duh. The bigger question is do you like Panda Express?”

            “What would you say if I said I’ve never had it?”

            “What? How on earth have you never had Panda Express?” She shrugs, keeping her eyes on the road. “Ok, well now we have to get it. There’s one in the mall.”

            “Can we get it to go and watch a movie at my house? I hate eating in the food court.” She confesses.

            “Sounds perfect.” Michael’s hand finds Rose’s on the center console as he links their fingers together. It was small gestures like that, that made her fall harder for him.

 

 

She flips on the light in her apartment illuminating the couch, table, lamp and a few miscellaneous items scattered around. “It’s not much, but it’s the best I could do when my mom kicked me out.” Rose mumbles, setting the food on the table in front of a small TV.

            “I like it. It suits you.” He takes in the one brick wall, accenting the rest, giving it a vintage feel. Sitting on her small couch they dig into the Chinese food that’s smell is wafting through out the apartment. Michael grabs for the orange chicken, and Rose takes the sweet and sour. A knock on the door startles them both from the movie they had just started.

            “Sorry,” she apologizes. “Hold on a sec.” Rose opens the door to find Luke standing there. His lip ring tugged between his teeth, hands stuffed in the pockets of his black skinny jeans, an apologetic look in his eyes.

            “Hey,” he awkwardly shuffles his feet. “Can we talk?” She nods and steps outside into the hallway closing the door behind her. “Look I am really sorry about the other night. I didn’t mean it they way it came out.” His words harder to understand through his thick Aussie accent. Luke’s accent was always thicker when he was excited and talking too fast or when he was upset and mumbling, like now.  

            “It’s fine. I overreacted.”

            “No it’s not. I want you too get better, and you only will if I trust you. I totally went big brother on you!” Rose giggled. It was endearing that Luke cared that much.

            “Luke, stop. I’m fine. We’re fine. I forgive you ok? I probably would have thought the same if the tables were turned.”

            “Ok, good.” He opened his arms and engulfed her into a hug, the smile coming back to his lips. “You can stay at mine again if you want.” Releasing her arms from around his thin torso, Rose has to back up to look at his face, his height towering like a tree.

            “Actually, I’m ok here.” She glances at her door, thinking of Michael inside. Luke shoots her a confused glance. “Um Michael is over.”

            “Ohh. That guy from your meeting?”

            “Yep!”

            “Right. I’ll go then. Hang out tomorrow if you’re not busy? I have the day off.”

            “Definitely!”

 

 

            “Everything alright?” Michael questions Rose when she sits back down next to him on the couch.

            “Yea. That was just Luke, we had a fight last night and he was apologizing.” She takes a small bite of her chicken.

            “Oh, ok. What did you fight about?” Michael’s curiosity gets the best of him.

            “Just my recovery. I was staying with him and I came home later than normal last night and he freaked cause he thought I was on some binge somewhere.”

            “Wow, he’s really giving you the benefit of the doubt.” He scoffs.

            “He meant well. In his defense it has happened before. But I am determined to get sober. This times different.” Michael nods in agreement. He puts down his fork and turns towards Rose.

            “I know what you mean. To be honest I only went back to the meeting to see you again. You struck me that first day and I had to get to know you. And last night when you called me about wanting to drink I was having the same internal battle, you helped me too.” This was the first time they’d talked about the fact they met at an alcoholics anonymous meeting. The pad of his thumb lightly brushes her cheek. “I didn’t mean to make you cry,” his voice is soft and calming.

            “No one has ever said they needed me too. I want to be strong for both of us.” Deep down she wasn’t sure if she could be strong for the both of them, but she would try her damn hardest. She moved to press her lips against his, so much need between them. Michael’s lips moved with hers as his hands moved to pull her closer.

 

if any of this seems rushed and like they just met and shit, it's because there is so much emotion and they are both fragile and need someone :) ok, i kinda liked how this chapter turned out. idk. xo -Rachel