Beside You *Muke*

Chapter 29

"What?" Michael hisses, hands balled into fists angered fists. "Do you have any idea what you caused?" He continues. Steam seemed to boil from his ears like a cartoon which, any other time would've brought me amusement, catipulted into a fit of giggles. Instead, I sit on my bed, cross legged and all air seemed to leave my body. I could already feel my whole face draining of color. Ashton was the one who did this? Ashton, my best friend was the one who destroyed my whole life?

"I thought I was doing the right thing," Ashton replies, looking around the room like a wild caged animal and maybe that's what he was. Michael was nearing closer and closer toward the confused lad, anger pulsing hot thorugh is body and I was sitting there, numb and emotionless, not saying a word. But was I really supposed to say?

"Obviously not," Michael growls. "He has to live with his mom. The one who destroyed his whole childhood. Did you think about that, Irwin? Did you think about how his mom would have custody over him since his father wasn't in the picture? Did you even think the whole thing through? God, you idiot; use your fucking head,"

I walk over to Michael on shaky legs, somewhat resembling a newborn doe, unsure how to use it's limbs. I grab onto his hand, tears streaming down my cheeks, lacking pigment and bury my face into my boyfriend's chest, sobbing softly, all of this hitting me at once. Ashton was the young man who had called in. Ashton was now the one who had ruined my life.

"Luke..." Ashton whispers and I lift my head from Michael's thick sweater to look over at my best friend. "I"m so sorr--"

"Get out," I whisper, voice barely audible.

"I--What?" He asks, sounding surprised.

"Get. Out. Get the fuck out, Ashton. Get. Out!" I shout, fury running like acid through my veins and settling into the pit of my stomach. My best friend leaves the house with his head ducked down and my hands shook with a tsunami of emotions. Nausea is replaced into the pit of my stomach in turn from the fury and I rush off to the bathroom, getting sick. I lie back against the bathroom wall beside the toilet and erupt into sobs.

Michael comes over to me, pulling me into his arms and rocking us back and forth like he had been doing all day. "I'm so sorry this is happening to you, sugar," He whispers into my hair, running his hands through it and I sob into his shirt.

"Why me?" I whimper.

"I don't know, baby but I'd switch places with you in a heartbeat if it meant you being happy," He peppers kisses across my cheeks, ignoring the saltiness of my tears and hums softly. "Things'll look up, sweetheart," He tells me but I'm not so sure I believed him.

***

"Welcome to Panera bread, how can I help y--Oh," I groan, finding my mother standing at the counter. "Cher, can you take care of this one? I think I left bread in the oven," I mutter, giving her a pleading look. The brunette nods, shooting me a confused smile before taking my place. I head to the back of the store, breath heavy and tears in my eyes. This wasn't happening. She came today to pick me up, so I could live with her like I was supposed to. "Nonononono," I wince, sliding against the bakery wall and sobbing into my hands.

I manage to pull my phone out of my pocket and call Michael although he was right outside. "Luke? Why didn't you just come out here to talk to me? I'm right he--"

"She's here," I sob. "L-Liz, she's here," I whisper, barely able to get the words out. "M-Mikey, I can't b-breathe," I say, coughing and choking.

"I'll be right there, baby," Michael whispers, hanging up the phone. Seconds later, the bakery doors jingle open and I hear Michael try and convince Cher to let him through. "Cher, please. He's having a panic attack. I have to help him," He pleads. Cher eventually lets him through and he comes stumbling toward me, pulling me into his arms, holding me close. "Sh, baby, you're okay. I won't let Liz touch you, okay? You're safe with me. IloveyouIloveyouIloveyouIloveyou. God, I love you," He whispers, rocking us back and forth.

Although his words are soothing, they don't help with the lack of air running through my lungs. "M-Mikey, my chest is so t-tight," I whimper.

"I know, sugar," He whispers. "Try and breathe for me, baby. Like this," He demonstrates for me quickly and I try to mimic him the best I could. "Cher, get him a glass of water, please," Michael murmurs toward the lanky girl beside him. She nods obediently and goes over to the fridge, grabbing me a waterbottle and hands it to me gently. Michael unscrewed the top for me and with shaky hands, I bring it up to my lips, taking a sip.

The action calms me slightly and I put the water down, curling into Michael's chest. "I'm sorry, Mikey," I whisper.

"Nothing to be sorry for, princess," He replies and I can't help but smile.

"Princess? That's a new one," I murmur, wiping away more tears.

"Do you like it?" Michael asks, voice low, still sounding unsure. 

"I love it. Just as I love you," I hold onto Michael tight, scared that if I let go, he'd slip right from my fingers and when I look up at Cher, I find her smile wide. I blush, unaware she had been watching. "Well hello there," I mutter, blushing deeper, causing her to laugh.

"Do you wanna take the rest of the day off? I can cover for you." She asks and I nod halfheartedly.

"Thank you," I get up from the ground and pull Cher into a hug. "You're the best," Michael and I leave the bakery and I feel my mother's gaze burning into my back. "Can we go home?" I ask, clinging into Michael's arm, dried tears frozen on my cheeks.

"Of course, sweetheart," He replies, pecking my cheek. I give him a small smile and the two of us continue to walk toward the van. "I love you," He reminds me.

"I love you too," I say, resting my head on his shoulder as we buckled into the car. Michael blasts the heater, January melting into February, the weather slowly giving up and whipping up a tint of warm weather, but not much, one barely able to register it.

The ride home was silent, Michael squeezing my hand ever so gently every few minutes. "I love you I love you I love you," I whisper quietly, the words quick and sporadic against my lips and Michael shows a wide tooth smile.

"I love you too, baby. Always," I kiss him on the cheek at a red light and he asks, "Ribs still hurt?"

I shrug my shoulders lightly. "Not really," I find myself mumbling as I talk next. "I'm sorry," 

Michael's eyebrows furrow with confusion and asks, "Why?" 

"For putting you through all of this," 

Michael cups my face in his hands, kissing my cheeks softly once we had pulled into his driveway. "I'm here for you, forever and always," He whispers, squeezing my hand lightly before leaving the car and waiting for me to do the same. The two of us sit down on his bed, slowly molding into the memory foam, crystal clear memories of moments on this bed like a slideshow through my self conscious. Michael and I shake sweet kisses, soft and gentle as we hold each other in the sunlight, his moment here with Michael, now, without a care in the world. 

Sooo yeah, that was that. I'm sorry this chapter and the last one were so shitty ;-; Hopefully you guys'll forgive me. Thoughts on this chapter anyway? 

-Shianne xx