Close As Strangers // michael clifford

One

Six weeks since I've been away, now you're saying everything has changed. And I'm afraid that I might be losing you.

"Charlie, I have to leave. The planes boarding," Michael says before he stands up.

I stand with him and grab his hand, "I love you, I don't want you to leave Mikey."

I can't even look at him, my hearts breaking.

"You know I have to, babe." He turned around to look at me, "Look at me."

I look up into his green eyes, he smiles softy looking into my teary brown eyes.

"I love you so much, Charlie. You're my everything. To the moon?" He pulls his sleeve up to show the tattoo on his bicep.

I lift the hem of my, well Michael's, sweater to show my tattoo on my side. I look at him and smile, "And Back."

He smiles down at me and pulls me into a hug, I wrap my arms around his torso. A sob escapes his lips and he breaks down around me. I sob with him. Neither of us know how long he'll be gone, hopefully not too long.

Luke and Calum walk over. Luke puts his hand on the back of his neck and rubs it before he speaks, "Um, Mike?"

Michael sniffles and rubs his tears away as he turns to the other two boys, "I know, I know. I'm sorry. We can leave now. Where's Ashton?"

Calum speaks this time, "He put all of our luggage on the plane. He's just waiting for us." He says it with a cautious smile.

Michael looks at me one last time before kissing me on the lips. He hugs me once again and says, "I love you to the moon, Charlie." A tear runs down his cheek as tears well in my eyes. I tell him, "I love you to moon and back, Mikey. I'll talk to you soon?"

He smiles so brightly his eyes crinkle up, I laugh at him and stand on my toes to kiss his nose. He laughs back and waves goodbye.

Calum gives me a quick hug before Luke says with a smile on his face, "Mine won't be as tear-filled or fast." I laughed and he hugged me tightly, I sniffle and he looked down at me with a puzzled face. I look up at him, "Just take care of him please." He pulls back into his chest and promises me that he will.

6 Weeks Later

Michael's ringtone begins to play from my phone, I practically leap over my bed to answer his phone call.

I pant, "Hello, handsome."

"Hello, beautiful," I hear the smile in his voice.

"It's been six weeks, Michael.."

"I know, babe. Trust me I know.."

"Everything's changed, Mike."

"What do you mean?"

"We aren't like we used to be."

I can hear a little bit of anger in his voice, "Maybe because we haven't seen each other in six fucking weeks, Charlie."

"Michael, I know. I miss you, so much. We just aren't the same, you haven't been the same. I haven't been the same. I the saddest part is that I've grown used to being alone."

"I miss you too. When I can come home we'll get back to our old ways, okay? Don't get used to it just yet, princess," he says this very soothingly.

I sigh in the phone, "Michael I love you. I need to be with you."

He sighs back, "You will soon enough. I love you more."

I smile to myself, "Not possible."

"Yes possible," he laughed in the phone a little.

I hear Ashton's voice, "Tell Ashton I said hello."

Michael shouts, "CHARLIE SAID HELLO ASHTON." Ashton shouts back a hello and I laugh.

Michael laughs as well, "I think I should be going since Ash is back, he and I need to clean up the bus."

I sigh once again, "Okay, Michael. I love you to the moon and back."

"I love you so much more than the moon and back, Charlie."

I smile and hang up the phone.

My phone lights up once again, Michael sent me a text.

'I'm sorry I shouted at you, I'm just afraid that I'm losing you.'

I text him back, 'You'll never lose me Michael. I'm always going to be here.'

I lock my phone once again and try to sleep since it was nearing two in the morning.