Beginnings • c.h

Chapter Thirty Nine

Chapter Thirty Nine

Mikey POV

“Michael, come here for a second!” My mum called to me from downstairs.

“Can it wait?! I’m in the middle of capturing a new Pokemon!” I yell back. My tongue poked out the side of my mouth in concentration, and I narrowed my eyes.

“Michael Gordon Clifford, I will not ask you again!” My mother yells, getting frustrated. Letting out a series of muffled curse words, I pause my game and head out of my room. I pull the sleeves of my hoodie over my hands, balling them up, creating what Megan always called sweater paws. God, she was such a weirdo.

“Mich-“ My mother begins.

“-I’m coming, just wait a second!” I interrupt, stomping down the stairs sullenly. I walk to the kitchen to find my mother clutching the phone and her other hand in front of her mouth.

“Mum? What is it?” I ask tremulously. Her eyes flicker to me and quickly back to the phone. 

“Who was that on the phone, Mum?” I say, slowly walking towards her. My mother mumbles something that I don’t quite catch.

“Mum, who was on the damn phone?” I ask again.

“It was Ashton.” My expression twists from a worried one to a befuddled one.

“Why was Ashton calling?”

“He was at the hospital.” My eyes widen in shock.

“Jesus Christ, what happened?! Is he okay?!” My mother nods her head, and I am temporarily relieved.

“Ashton’s fine. He was taking Megan to the hospital.” My heart sinks to my stomach.

“Fuck, what happened to Megan? Shit, I have to go see her, make sure she is alright.”

“Michael, slow down. Ashton said she was fine-“

“-Why is she in hospital if she was fine?” I snarl, my hands subconsciously curling into fists.

“You didn’t let me finish.” My mother scolds. “Ashton said that she got some glass in her hands and she had to go to hospital to get it properly taken out.”

I turn away from my mother and  swear loudly, but for once my mother doesn’t scold me. I think she realised how much I was worried.

“You can go, if you would like.” My mother said softly. I turn back to my mother to see a sad smile on her face.

“Really?” I ask in disbelief.

“It hurts to know that someone you love is in hospital and you can’t see them. So, yes, you can go.” She says gently.

“Who said I loved Megan?” I say defiantly.

“I can see it in your eyes. Your pretty easy to read, darling.” My mother explains. I step forward, and for the first time in a long time, I wrap my arms around my mother and squeeze her against me. I can feel by her stiffness that she is surprised by my sudden affection, she quickly wraps her arms around me and crushes me against her body. I suddenly realise that I was taller than her. By a long shot. Shit, when did that happen?

“I also heard you two this afternoon. You guys weren’t exactly whispering to each other.” Mum whispers. I let out a laugh and pull back. Looking at my mum, I can see her eyes are tearing up.

“Don’t cry, Mum.” I say tenderly.

“How can I not? My little boy is growing up!” She says, wiping under her eyes, checking for tears. I let out another small chuckle.