Michael Gray: Better Man

Let's Pretend We're Friends

A mere few hours spent alone with one's thoughts could do wonders. The time that could've been spent on resting turned into a "what if" session for Olivia and Michael respectively.

When sunlight and heat from outside were starting to get harder to ignore, Olivia sighed in defeat and a little bit of annoyance.

Confronting him about the past would just make things even more awkward than it already is. "I think I've attempted enough confrontations involving, Michael in the past." She thinks to herself, grabbing a brush and started trying to tame her hair in-front of the mirror.

To completely ignore him or act like he doesn't exist would make her look like she's holding a grudge - which she wasn't... well maybe just a little bit.

Just act like you're old time friends that have only started to reconnect. She thought to herself.

It was oddly specific, but it was the best option she had thought of. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she now looks less tired, though the circles around her eyes may suggest otherwise.

Going down stairs, she was greeted with the smell of something cooking. Coming to a slow stop, what she saw next made her a little anxious again.

Michael with his bare back facing her, dressed only in his pants, was making breakfast. Shirts were never a necessity to him in mornings. Looking at him while he was cooking, she made a mental comment that even with only his back facing her, he still looked good.

He was never on the 'really muscular" side, nor was he flabby. And over the years that he was living with the Shelbys, he actually became even more toned. Just the perfect toned physique, which suited him too well, in her opinion.

The back of his head looked like his hair had been raked through a lot. And as much as she tries to control her thoughts, she can still remember tugging at them gently and running her fingers through them a lot, where they'd eventually slide town to feel his back.

She didn't realize that she had been staring, until Michael turned around to face her. And she hated how he looked like he actually had some proper rest.

"I hope you don't mind, Olivia. I made us some breakfast." He greeted her a small smile.

Michael himself that morning, made a decision to make her feel a little bit more at ease around him. He remembers her being bad around awkward situations, so being awkward himself around her wouldn't be of help.

"Uh thank you, Michael. Sorry if their isn't much around to cook. I haven't been getting some groceries in the market." She answered him shyly.

"It's okay, we can get some more later, if you're free." He offered with a smile, setting the food down on the small dining table and gesturing for her to take the seat across him.

Yes, she planned on being friendly towards him, but she didn't expect him to beat her into initiating it, nor that it would be this easy.

They sat, starting to eat what Michael had prepared, exchanging a small smile every now and then when they'd accidentally make eye contact.

For both of them it felt like there was a silent agreement made.

Let's pretend we're friends.

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Not having to open her office today might've given her time for leisure some days, but today she cursed it.

In the midst of their somewhat smooth attempt to have small talks, she actually dumbly offered to show him around the area that day. One he gratefully accepted.

And that's why she's now in her bathroom, cleaning her body, while silently cursing herself.

You just had to be THAT friendly.

But Ginny had actually told her the night before, that maybe having his presence more would actually make it easier for her to get used to having him around. And that would make it also easier for her to go back and visit everybody in Birmingham in the future.

Michael next room was also getting ready. He knew her well enough to know that what she offered earlier was done out of the attempt to actually say something, but he was quick enough to accept it.

She must be kicking herself in the head right now, noting that she'd been in the bathroom longer than he'd expected. He chuckled.

But this was a great opportunity for him. The first step in making amends easier was making her comfortable around him.

"I guess not making her regret this would be a top priority." He said while putting his coat on.

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