The Runaway - N.H.

[15] Get off

I look up praying I'm hearing things. Instead my nightmare comes true when I see the four of them on the stage singing some song I've never heard before.

Within a minute I was all packed up.

The song sound electric, it sounds like them. see Ash at the back of the stage playing the drums and I can't help but smile at him in his own little world, enjoying every second. Michael's playing guitar and I remember when he used to be shit and would get so frustrated with it, which makes my smile grow even wider. All the memories flash through my mind and one in particular sticks and I don't have the energy to push them back anymore.

Flashback

Michael walks into the kitchen and grabs a slice of pizza from the counter without a plate and starts dropping crumbs all over the floor.

"Get a fucking plate." I growl, I'm not in the mood to clean up his shit.

"Get a fucking shrink." He fired back. Ouch. I'm about to cuss him out but I stay quiet, not wanting to start anything right now.

"Hey BeeBee." Luke says walking into the room and kisses my forehead before sending Michael a glare. He can always sense when there's tension between us. I try to smile at him because I don't want him to know I'm upset. He sits down next to me and puts his arm around my shoulder, something he's done since we first met.

After a while he looks over at me and notices my eyes going glossy. He quietly pulls me up and takes me into the other room, hugging me tighter than he ever has before.

"I'm okay, I promise," But I'm not, Michael's words always hurt me.

"I know, I just wanted to hug you," He mumbles and I can hear his goofy grin.

"Get off my girlfriend," Calum says from behind me, his tone isn't harsh but i can tell there is a slight seriousness behind it.

"Mate she was my friend first," Luke laughs, releasing me from the hug.

"Yeah but she's mine so don't get too comfortable."

They both start laughing while Calum walks over to me and kisses me, holding the finger up to Luke.

"Classy Cal," Ashton says as he walks in, his mouth full of pizza.

"No that's classy Ash," Calum says and breaks into laughter.

It's nice to see them so happy, it's a rarity lately.

Michael walks in and I swear, if looks could kill. I stare down at my feet and I know if I don't tell them soon, he will.

----

The memory starts to physically hurt me. I can actually feel a knot in my stomach starting to form. I have to pry my eyes away before I break down and have a panic attack.

They continue singing that god damned song and I remember when the four of them used to play video games while singing and call it practicing.

I'm still standing at the back of the room when Luke notices me. They're in the middle of the chorus but he still runs off the stage and straight towards me, a huge grin on his face. He's only half way across the room when the rest of the room notice who he's going to.

He reaches me and without hesitating, engulfs me in a huge hug and picks me up, swinging me around. The hug feels familiar and different and warm all at the same time. I never want to let go.

He pulls away just enough to still be holding me but can see my face. He smiles and my heart warms and breaks, all at the same time.

"Get off my girlfriend," Niall laughs from behind me.

"Girlfriend?" Luke smiles a little but he seems... sad?

I shoot Niall a glare but he just laughs harder. "We aren't dating," I say to Luke, I don't even know what we are right now.

"You were mine first so I don't care," Luke says quietly but I know Niall heard. I try to ignore him, I don't want this to be any worse.

Luke opens his mouth to say something but a skunk haired boy runs up to me and picks me up before he can.

"Braeden! You look good!" Michael screams even though his mouth is right next to my ear.

"Oh shut up you little shit," I say laughing.

He pulls away and kisses me on the cheek smiling. "I missed you and your unnecessary swearing."

"Oh please you didn't miss me," I hiss and Luke stops smiling. But Michael doesn't, probably because he knows he didn't miss me as much as he is letting on.

I turn around half expecting the other two to be there but when I search the room, they are nowhere to be found.