forever // m.c (book 3)

14 - maybe you were needed up there

song for the chapter: small bump by ed sheeran

{unedited}

Michael's POV

It's been a month since the fundraiser and Summer had been pulling away from me. She wouldn't stay when she dropped Hope over at my apartment and she wasn't inviting me to stay the night like she had multiple times over the past month. It felt as though there was something she didn't want to tell me. I decided it was best to give her a call and try to get it out of her. I knew I wasn't going to keep any secrets from her anymore, but how was I supposed to know if she was going to do the same. 

"Michael?" Summer answered. It was noisy wherever she was and I could barely hear her. 

"Where are you?"  

"The market. Our cupboards are practically empty and I haven't found time to go to the store."

"You could have asked me for help," I offered, knowing that she would have declined it. It was partly why we split up before, I was helping too much. 

"I can do my own grocery shopping, Michael. What do you need?" she asked, having moved to a quieter area so I could hear her better now. 

"I just wanted to check up on you. When is your next doctor appointment?" 

"Why? You don't need to come," she sighed. I could tell she was barely paying attention to me and it hurt. We were about to bring another child into the world and we needed to improve on our communication. 

"But I want to. I told you I wasn't going to leave you to do this on your own. I want to be there for you and the baby," I explained, hoping she would tell me and let me come along.

"It's this afternoon, actually."

"Great! What time? I'll meet you there. Or I can drive you, whichever works for you."

"It's at noon and you can meet me there, I guess. I'll see you then," she told me before hanging up. 

I was the one to sigh now. I really needed to figure this out because I felt I was losing her again. 

Summer's POV

I walked into the waiting room of the clinic and found Michael already there. I didn't understand why he needed to come along. I did perfectly fine on my own the first time around. I could tell he realized I was distancing myself from him. I wasn't exactly sure why, but I didn't want Hope to believe we were getting back together and that her dad was going to move in. She had questioned me about it multiple times and I had to tell her that Michael was keeping his apartment and we were staying separated. A huge part of me wanted to tell her that we were getting back together because it would be better for her and the new baby, but that's not the reason to get back with someone. It should be because you want to and you both love each other, not because it will give your children a better life. I wanted to be with him, yet I didn't want to risk going through anymore pain when I needed to be responsible and care for Hope and the new baby.

Michael stood up when I walked over to him and pulled me into a hug. I lightly hugged him back before we both took seats in the blue waiting room chairs. 

"How are you feeling?" 

"Alright. I'm just tired from rehearsals and taking care of Hope. I haven't been sleeping well," I confessed. 

"Why not? We should ask the doctor about that," he said, his concerned gaze inspecting me. 

"I'm sure it's fine," I groaned. 

"Summer?" a nurse called. Michael and I followed the nurse into a room where she instructed me to sit on the table. Michael stood next to me and grabbed onto my hand. "The doctor will be in shortly."

A few minutes of silence passed with Michael still holding onto my hand. I suddenly got a heart-wrenchingly awful pain in my stomach, causing me to sit forward and hold it. 

"Whoa, are you alright?"

I violently shook my head and he finally let go of my hand and ran into the hallway to look for help. When he returned to the room with someone, I was bent over on the table trying to refrain from screaming out in pain.

"Summer? It's Dr. Carey. Where does it hurt?" my doctor asked, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. 

"My...stomach," I managed to get out.

"Have you felt a pain like this before? What does it feel like?"

"No. It feels like cramps but a million times worse," I said between breaths. I noticed Michael with a panicked look on his face, standing off to the side. 

"Any spotting or bleeding?" I shook my head, the pain too intense for me to try and speak. "Ok, can you lay back for me? I need to check a few things out," she told me before helping me lay back slowly. "Good. Now, I'm going to lift up your shirt to do the ultrasound. Is the pain still that intense?"

I nodded, sweat beginning to cover my body. She poured the cold blue jelly onto my bare abdomen, causing me to shiver through the sweat. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to think of anything but the pain. I reached my hand out in the direction I remembered Michael to be. He rushed over and I found his hand, wanting to hold onto it now. 

"You've got a strong grip," he commented as I squeezed. "Probably beat me in a fight," he laughed nervously. If I wasn't in so much pain, I would've smiled. 

"Hmmm," I heard the doctor say, causing me to open my eyes and look at the her. 

"What is it?" Michael asked for us. 

"Are you sure there's been no spotting?" I nodded in response. I was getting worried and I just wanted her to spit out what was going on. "I can't find a heartbeat. I'm sorry, but you've had a miscarriage Summer." 

short update. please vote and comment. xx zoe