Summary; you’re friends with Michael around the time he starts living with Ms Mead. You feel protective of him, like an older sibling however he wishes you could see him as the man his father wants him to become.

“Michael, slow down! You’ll give yourself a stomach ache!” You giggled while watching the tall boy with golden blonde curls, crouched over his plate inhaling his French toast.

“Buh ifs so gud” He replied with his mouth full.

“He’s got one hell of an appetite” Ms Mead said appearing into the kitchen.

You smiled at the woman, looking over at Michael still eating, as if nothing else was around him other than his food.

You sat at Ms Mead’s table sipping your cup of coffee. Michael finished eating and looked up at you with his sweet smile. You returned the smile looking at him.

He’s so innocent, how could his family have treated him like they did. You thought.

You’d met at the supermarket. He was with Ms Mead and he bumped into you. Literally.

His trolley took you out as you both turned down an aisle and your groceries went flying. He profusely apologised and started to help you pick up your items. You laughed and told him it was fine, it was your fault for not paying attention.

Both of your hands went to pick up a can of peaches at the same time and your fingers brushed. Looking up at him, meeting his electrifying pale blue eyes, you blushed at his beauty before apologising for walking into him.

You both started talking and you found out you lived a few houses apart from each other’s. You knew of Ms Mead, you certainly didn’t know she had a son. You finished your shopping together and were walking back to your houses when he asked you if you’d like to hang out with him someday.

You agreed and ever since then, you’d become his closet friend. He confided in you, Ms Mead taught you about Satanism and Michael told you of his true heritage. You weren’t scared when he told you. But you did think if you could help him hang onto his humanity, maybe he’d realise that there are people out there who wouldn’t treat him as badly as his paternal family did. You wanted to keep him safe, and look after him always.

“Want to go and watch a film?” Michael asked you.

“Sure” you replied, getting up and following him to Ms Mead’s living room.

“I’ll see you kids later, I’m off to the supermarket” Ms Mead told you both.

You were sat watching horror films with Michael. He kept snorting every time the killer killed one of the hapless teenagers.

“They’re so stupid!” He retorted. “They could easily just torture the teens, THEN kill them” Michael said, more out loud than to you.

“Maybe the killer likes the thrill of the chase. Kind of like cat and mouse” you said.

Michael kept watching the film. About ten minutes later, you felt his arm behind your head as he stretched out.

Side eyeing his arm, you kept your face straight, staring at the tv.

His arm started to move closer to you, as if he was slyly trying to pull your body closer to him.

“Michael, what’cha doing?” you asked him.

“I felt like cuddling” he said simply. Like it was the most obvious question you’d ever asked him.

He likes cuddling up to you.

Normally his head was on your shoulder or on your lap as you ran your fingers through his silk soft blonde curls.

But lately, Michael started taking on a more confident approach. Like a boy who had a crush but wasn’t sure about making the first move so he’d see what he could try and get away with without trying to scare you off.

“You’re so cute” you chided.

“Why do you always say that” his said with a hump.

“Say what?” You asked him, confused as to his change of attitude

“You’re always calling me cute! Like I’m some kid you’re asked to babysit, and I’m not!” He replied huffily.

“Michael, I don’t think that. It’s just me and you are matured differently. You grew up so fast because your father wanted you too but mentally, you still come across as this innocent person who needs comfort, and reassurance and love” you told him, trying to soften the blow to his ego when in actual fact, you did see him as more of a child, regardless of his tall, handsome teenage appearance.

“But I’m not though” He whined. “I want you to see me as your equal” he said sadly. His beautiful pink lips protruding into a pout. Which to you, only made him look more adorable.

You couldn’t explain your attraction to Michael. Yes, he was very good looking. Who were you kidding, he was beautiful. But his mind, he was so innocent. And the last thing you wanted to do was hurt him or corrupt him. You felt almost responsible for him and you didn’t want to lose that connection you had with him.

“Michael, I...” you started saying

Michael stopped you from speaking, placing his fingers on your lips.

“Please don’t” he asked you. “I couldn’t take it hearing you don’t feel the same way about me as I do about you” his eyes full of sorrow.

You swallowed the lump in your throat, and willed the water gathering at your eyes to cease.

“I’m gonna go” you whispered quietly.

“No! Wait!” Michael protested. Jumping up trying to stop you from leaving. “Please stay” he begged.

“I’ve got studying to do Mike, and I need to feed my cat” you lied to him. “I promise I’ll come by and see you tomorrow” you told him. Still not looking at him directly. You wouldn’t be able to handle his heartbroken eyes looking at you.

“Okay, you promise?” He asked you, hopeful. He hadn’t gone 6 months without seeing you daily.

“I promise” you told him, reaching up to peck him on his cheek, you quickly opened the door and briskly walked out.

Pleased to get some fresh air. You let out a deep breathe. Your chest was constricting. Surely you didn’t feel more for Michael than you let on. Could you?

Thinking you just need some space to think, you plugged in your earphones and carried on the street to your house.

Word count: 797 Triggers: None – Swearing

***He can’t be cheating. He loves me… Doesn’t he? He still says he does. Why has he been so distant, I know we’ve both been super busy with work but surely he isn’t bored of me? ***

He’s found someone else. Why else would be distancing himself? You’ve bored him; he’s only with you out of pity.

***He wouldn’t hide that from me. We’ve both been exhausted but our sex life wasn’t slacking, okay so it had been a while but to me, nothing feels different. ***

Willing away the tears forming in her eyes Y/N tried her hardest to concentrate on her workload which wouldn’t get anywhere if she didn’t stop thinking about her current relationship.

However her heart and head where seemingly having an internal battle, fighting each other with opposing thoughts until it felt like she might actually shatter from the internal agony she was causing herself.

“Y/N, have you got the update to the brief from last week?” Mr Mitchell, Y/N’s boss drawled.

Y/N looked up at him, trying her hardest to push her personal matters aside.

She hated appearing as anything other than professional when she was working however she could not stop this stabbing feeling in her gut (and heart). Sighing, she reached to the folder on her desk, handing it to her boss.

“Perfect! And can I assume you are all ready for our meeting with the client next week? I trust the agenda is all set and everything is in place? We must have this contract signed by the end of next week”

Y/N was staring at her boss whilst he rambled on and on in his monotone voice, trying desperately to make out like she was paying attention. Nodding a few times, adding a few ‘M’hmm’s’ in there for good measure.

“We’re this close to landing that deal; it’s all down to the details you know”

Wait, what? Shit! I really wasn’t paying attention… Y/N suddenly snapped of of her trance like state, staring at her superior with a confused expression, eyebrows raised slightly on her forehead…

“Sorry Mr M, I’m really not with it, I’m going to take my stuff and work from home. Too many distractions in the office” She curtly replied, hoping he’d buy into it.

“Yes, yes, of course. Feel better” She could hear Mr Mitchell mumbling even though he was already walking away from her.

***I’ve really got to get my shit together. I can’t sit around feeling sorry for myself anymore. If there’s something up with Michael, we can talk it out like adults later tonight. *** Y/N stated to herself.

Thinking she needed to do something productive, packing up her desk, she dialled Anna.

“Hey Doll! What’s up?”

“Meet at mine for a coffee? I’m struggling today, I need a distraction” Waiting for Anna to reply, Y/N heard faint whispers in the background

“Huh? Oh yeah, sure, umm, I’ll be there in 15, see you soon”

“Anna chick, if you’re busy, you don’t have to?”

“No, no, it’s all good; I’m just going over some small details with a client. I’ll see you soon babe”

Y/N faintly smiled to herself. She always found comfort in the optimism of her best friend. No matter what happened in her life, Anna was always there for her.

“I’ve got to go Michael; I’m meeting Y/N at your house in 15 minutes!”

“Wait!” Michael grabbed onto Anna’s wrist stopping her from taking another step towards his office door.

“Please promise me, you will not give her the slightest hint that you’ve been with me today, please” He looked directly at Anna, pleading at her with icy blue eyes.

Anna took a deep breathe, something akin to guilt starting to settle in her stomach.

“I won’t, Mikey, just please let me go, the quicker I get this over with her, the quicker I can get back here to you” forcing herself to smile at him, hoping he’d release his grip on her wrist and she can slink out of there before the guilt finally etched away at her conscience and she broke.

The reality of what she was keeping from her best friend was starting to jab away at her brain like an ice pick. Worrying her that she would eventually crack and blurt out what she and Michael had been doing until the late hours of the nights, early weekend mornings, and just any time he could get away from Y/N.