“How are you holding up, Natalie?” Nicole was sitting cross-legged at the end of my bed. I had spoken to the police earlier and then the hospital basically told me to get lost so they could put another patient in that room.
Michael had gone back to his to grab some stuff and have a shower. He had only moved to go to the toilet whilst I was lapping in and out of consciousness and I felt bad, him and his green hair looked like shit.
“It was horrible guys, I didn’t even know…” My voice was still low. It was as if speaking loudly would break the bubble I created for myself when I told myself what I was going to focus on.
Rosie slipped onto the bed beside me, smiling. “You don’t have to talk about it.” I smiled back at her, grateful.
I really wanted the girls to stay with me but I knew that, in the end, they’d ask a question about River. Even if it’s just the perfect week we spent together. That’s why I asked Michael to stay instead. He didn’t ask questions and he was cuddly as hell.
“So… Michael, hey?” The two girls shared a glance, amusement clear on both of their faces.
“I want to be friends with him again.” I squeaked. I was only just sort of with River, why were they asking about Shrek hair?
“Come on, we can totally see it!” Nicole had a thing for ‘shipping’ people. Sometimes, if me or Rosie so much as exchanged a glance with a cute guy on the street she claims she ‘ships’ it. I like to think she’s been reading too many romance books and obsessing over too many TV shows but honestly I think she’s just a little weird.
“Me and Shrek? Yeah right.” I scoffed at the idea as they laughed at my nickname for him. At some point during the past few hours I had had a dream of Shrek with Michael’s face on it and the image was stuck in my head.
“I swear to God if I just heard another shrek joke…” The girls started laughing harder as Michael came through my bedroom door, mocking anger.
“I bet the boys are having a field day with that name.” Rosie gasped through laughter. I started giggling at the tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
“You know full well Ashton bums anything animated, it didn’t take him long to think of it.” Michael carelessly tossed his bag by the door and joined Nicole at the end of my bed.
I started to laugh but my stomach twisted up into knots. Damn cramps, why now of all the times my body could decide to flush out its monthly waste it chooses a time like this? My groan had Michael jump over to me to check if I was alright. The panic in his eyes made me laugh.
“Bad stomach, get off you idiot.” He was sprawled over all three of us – his long legs tapping Nicole and his body trapping both me and Rosie.
“I think I’m quite comfortable.” He grinned down at me, wiggling slightly. All three of us pushed and pushed until he nearly rolled right onto the floor. Nicole was the first to scramble away with Rosie quick to follow. Unfortunately, I wasn’t as fast. Michael had flung himself right back on top of me.
“Jesus Michael, you must eat a fucking cow every day.” I attempted to move but found it impossible.
“If it was made out of pizza, I so would.” I rolled my eyes and turned my head to start begging the girls for help. They were both standing at the door and I could just tell they were going to abandon me.
“We’re going to leave you guys alone. We hope you feel better, Natalie. Text me?” I nodded to Rosie as she left. Nicole was on her tail but stopped the door from closing fully.
“Safety first, children!” Her laughter decreased as she walked through my apartment and out of the door.
Taking Michael by surprise, I was able to push him to the side of me. Instantly, he placed his arm around me and smiled.
“How are you dealing so well?” My face drooped.
“I don’t know.” River’s body was an image burned onto my mind, his limp arms and open mouth. I wasn’t weak though, I needed to make sure I was okay.
I would mourn River, of course I would. I will mourn him a lot but I won’t stop living.
“Your strength amazes me.” I had expected Michael to think I was sick. Someone I was surprisingly close to dying and here I was with friends, laughing. I thought he would think I was a horrible person. I pushed myself away from him, really looking at him. His eyes were tired and a dull greeny blue, bags stood out against his pale skin and his hair, although slightly wet from his recent shower, was a mess.
“Were you close with River?” My hand lingered on his arm and I had to push away the tingles I felt.
“It was me and Griff who were the close friends so not really but man, someone you’ve known for a long time – whether you like them or not – dying like that is horrible,” He was staring off into the distance. I hadn’t even considered the way he was feeling. “It’s affected you and Griff so much and that’s what makes this worse for me.”
He met my eyes then, his stare intense. I didn’t know what to say. I knew he wanted things to be okay between us, with Griff and River and I could see the annoyance on his face that he couldn’t seem to fix anything.
“We’re friends, Michael. No way are you forgiven but we can try?” I don’t think I could find it in me to forgive what he said about me. I’m not one of those silly girls that run back to a guy that treats them like shit straight away. They should at least prove themselves again.
“Really?” I started to nod at his question but didn’t get time to finish as he dived on me, tackling me into a hug.
“How many times are you going to lie on me today?” My attempts at slapping his arm to get him off of me didn’t work and all he did was prop himself up on his elbows.
“Get use to it, I lie on my friends,” He was grinning like a little kid and I couldn’t help but smile back. "Does this mean you'll come to our gig tomorrow night, even though..." He trailed off, his eyebrows furrowed.
"I'd love to, where is it?"
We spent the night talking and watching movies. I admit, I did start to cry again at one point remembering the past couple of days. Michael managed to calm me down enough to fall asleep and he stayed there until I could no longer focus on the wall his arms created between me and the world.
-&-
"Are you going to redye your hair for tonight?" We were sitting on the roof of my apartment building, having climbed up the fire escape. I came up here a lot if I ever wanted a break. The view was surreal. My stomach had been killing me but luckily it only hurt the first day. I was one of the luckier girls who's periods only lasted three days and weren't heavy at all. Thank fuck.
My legs were dangling off the edge and Michael was laying on the wide wall, his head in my lap. Another cigarette was hanging out of his mouth, the smoke twirling up in patterns I was mesmirised by. I took a section of his hair in my hand, playing with it. His eyes closed as held the cigarette away from his mouth.
"Not sure, I quite like the uniqueness." His eyes were still closed as he took another drag of his cigarette.
"I think you look stupid"
"Who's to blame for that?" His eyes flashed open and looked at me accusingly.
"Yourself." I stuck my tongue out at him and giggled at my childish reply. He chuckled at me and, after stubbing out the end of his cigarette, he got up and held his hand out to me.
"Let's go get some hair dye." I took his hand and smiled, glad for something to do.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SO CAN WE TALK ABOUT MICHAEL'S NOW GREEN HAIR?? I THINK IT'S A LIL BIT OF A COINCIDENCE
it's weird with this schedule because right now i'm writing chapter 29 and i keep getting further and further ahead!
i hope you guys are enjoying this, there's some really cute moments coming up i promise :D
dedicated to iamhellbound because she actually likes this story (i literally can't believe it!)
next upload on saturday xo
YOU ARE READING
that damned cigarette ↪ m.c
Fanfiction"This isn't a stupid chick flick movie, Clifford!" "Who said I wanted that?" Once upon a time, there was a boy and girl. She was beautiful and he was handsome. He saved her and she made him realise his wrongs. But what if there wasn't a happy e...
