Don't Stop | Michael Clifford

Chapter 25

I had stayed at Maddie's for about a week now. It went a bit up and down with her, just when I thought she was okay, it all came crashing back to her. But that's her. She always keeps everything inside until she explodes, and with her being cheated on, that exploding didn't take long to come.

On the 8th day I woke up by a buzzing beside me. I open my eyes, yawning as I see it's my phone. "Hey Michael," I say, making my way out of Maddie's bedroom where she was sleeping peacefully, although her eyes seemed a bit puffy. I finally got her to sleep a few hours ago, so I was tired as well myself.

"Hey," Michael speaks, making me smile as I lean my back against the wall of the kitchen I had entered, seeing it was 9 am. Michael usually slept at this time, so I can't help but furrow my eyebrow.

"What's up?" I ask, taking a hand through my messy hair, yawning.

"Uhmm, our trip is in a few days," he reminds me and I can hear him sigh. "Look, I get if you want to call it off and stay here with Maddie." I want to go, I so want to go, so I let out a deep sigh.

"I want to go," I say, more like a whine actually and I can hear he slightly chuckles on the other side of the line. "But I'm not sure if I can leave her."

"Why don't she join then?" Michael suggests, suddenly sounding more happy.

"Well, it was supposed to be for us..." I say, I like the idea, but she would feel like a third wheel with Michael and I, and I would feel like I had to choose between the two of them.

"Luke," he exclaims. "Luke can join us, keeping Maddie entertained and can hang out with me if she needs time with you." I smile, nodding to myself as I hear steps, Maddie entering the room, taking a hand through her hair as she sniffles. I would need her to take a shower though.

"What's going on?" she asks, leaning against the fridge, picking up a glass of water she left there yesterday.

"Uhmm," I say, holding the phone away from my ear. "Michael and I have been planning a trip to Miami and-"

"I get it, you can go," she says, and I know she's lying. I shake my head, grabbing her arm from leaving.

"No, Maddie. We're planning on you and Luke joining us."

"For your couple trip?" she laughs, me sighing.

"Well, you and Luke are pretty good friends, and I want to be there if you need it. So, the two of you can hang out, and if you need me, you can just tell me." I smile at her, and I'm sure she finds my excitement amusing. No matter what, she laughs, taking a hand through her hair.

"That sounds lovely," she laughs. I smile, picking the phone up to my ear again.

"We're in."

.

.

"Hey," Michael smiles, kissing my cheek, then looking over at Maddie. "Hey Maddie, how's it going?"

"It's going better, thank you. I just can't wait to get my mind off things, I'm sure this is really what I need," she tell him, meaning the little vacation we're going on. Maddie and I had been standing at the airport for about ten minutes, Michael now being here, saying Luke was just finding a parking spot, he would be here in a few minutes.

"Hey guys!" Luke says, running over, a sports bag swung unto his shoulder. I was about to wonder why he had that with him, but then I remembered; he's a guy! Luke swings one of his arms around Maddie, giving her body a squeeze, her giving him a smile. "How are you doing?" he asks with a small smile.