A hurt tattoo artist, a crazed painter, a confused druggie, and a controlling gangster...It sounds like a chaotic mix of colors that shouldn't be able to mix, but instead they take that expectation and they make themselves blend together instead.
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29 - I Still Love You
Something unusual and rare was happening to Michael: he was smiling.
His night with Ashton went amazing. His mind felt more clear and Ashton made him feel like he belonged and that he had a rightful spot with the other three.
Maybe things were starting to work out for him. Life could possibly be turning around and offering him something better.
Unlocking the front door and stepping in, Michael's eyes instantly narrowed in confusion when he saw a crying Marissa sitting on the bottom of the stairs with her face in her hands.
She slightly jumped from the movement from Michael, making her look up at him with tears running down her face. She only seemed to sob harder when she saw Michael there.
"What's wrong?" He asked softly when he approached her and bent down to try to be eye level with her.
Marissa destroyed his happiness, but he still cared. He couldn't just ignore the fact that she was sobbing hysterically. It wasn't who he was.
"Just Oli. We argued about something stupid and he stormed off." She said as she tried to wipe her tears away before looking at Michael silently.
"I haven't seen you cry this hard since that stupid character died in your favorite show." He grinned slightly, trying to bring up her mood.
She chuckled from this, nodding in agreement, "You're right."
"Do you need anything?"
She paused in silence when she scanned over Michael's face that was in front of her own. Michael looked at her in confusion not understanding why she had suddenly gone silent.
"I'm sorry." She finally said, "I'm sorry for all of this. You don't deserve it."
Michael didn't know how to respond to that, so he only nodded his head and frowned slightly.
"You don't, Michael. You deserve better than me and better than this shitty situation. I wish that we could go back to the good days. I just want to be in your arms again and to talk about your newest drawing of the day."
"I know..." He sighed painfully.
She reached forwards, placing her hand on his cheek to make him look into her eyes, "Michael...I still love you."
"You can't say that." He said with pain consuming him all over again, "You can't say that you love me. It breaks my heart all over again."
"It's the truth. I will forever be in love with you, Michael Clifford."
"You cheated on me. You left me for Oli. You're still with Oli in our very own house." He said too calmly for a man in his situation. Any other person should and would be blinded with rage, but he was too hurt to be mad anymore.
"I can't help how I feel. I love you." She tried to pull him closer, but he wouldn't let her.
He stood up and stepped back, putting much needed space between them. Michael saw the evident neediness from the other, making him hurt all over again.
He was confused and pained. Did she mean what she said? Or was her fight with Oli making her emotional and seek out affection?
"We can be together. You just have to say yes." She said hopefully, standing up from the stairs and watching for his reaction.
"Once Oli is back and you guys talk then you and I can talk about this." He said not knowing if Marissa was being genuine.
He hated what she has done to him and what she continues to do. But he loved her. There was still something in him hoping that Marissa wanted him back.
—•••—
Michael got close to no sleep.
He was waiting for the next day to start to see where him and Marissa were heading.
When Oli came back and spoke with Marissa were things going to be different? Would she pick him over Oli?
But now Michael also held guilt about the situation. He now also longed for the interest from Calum, Luke, and Ashton.
There was too much confusion and worry clouding Michael's mind and he wanted it all to be answered already.
So when the next morning came and he heard movement from the others in the house, he easily got out of bed for once in anticipation.
After making himself presentable, Michael made his way out of his room and into the living room. There was hope and even maybe love swarming his chest as he started to think positively about this.
Things were going to be okay. He was going to be happy and accepted again.
But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Oli and Marissa laughing as they cuddled up with each other on the couch.
Michael instantly felt the tears start to form in his eyes, especially when he saw Marissa make eye contact with him. She frowned slightly and mouthed out a simple 'sorry.'
He turned around and went back into his room, feeling the pain become even worse than before.
How could he ever think that things could be different? How could he ever think that he had a chance?
Marissa was just emotional and being manipulative to get some possible affection, leaving Michael a victim to being the one hurt the most at the end of the day.
