issues ⇉ central cee.

the art of caring.

This was not the first nor the last time Oakley had gone off the rails, and Michaela had begun to care more and more each time.
And each time it would be her doing all the leg work to get him back on track and recover because he simply didn't care as much as he should about his own life. He cared about getting money, he cared about making music, he cared about building his shoe collection and the amount of 'Live Your Movie' chains he possessed and staying poised for the internet. But not himself. Never himself. Only ever everything and everyone else. Michaela - as always - never knew how deep his lack of care ran. She never knew how much he hated himself, she never knew how bad he was hurting, she never knew about how much he wished he could just disappear, she never knew he only truly cared for her. Oakley intended to keep it this way.

Marvin knew though. He knew it all. He'd barely known the kid a year yet he never seemed to stop rambling any chance he got. Oakley had told him all the things that made him hurt, all the things he wished would stop and all the things he hoped to happen in the future. Though, the most painful thing for him was the innocence that it was all laced with.
Oakley may be an adult now, twenty-three years of age and had always been way too mature for a child. However, he had never got to experience childhood the way everyone else did. He never got to feel the love of his parents, he never got to experience his first love. The only love he ever received was drugs. Of course, there was Michaela too but he never thought she loved him.

Marvin thought this was probably why Oakley had taken such a liking to him, and had been so quick to feel comfortable in his presence. He craved the paternal love he never even got a glimpse at and Marvin was exactly that for him. He was already a father to his two-year-old daughter, a gorgeous gorgeous young girl, and Oakley adored her. Even joked that she was his sister from another mister. The signs were all there he just didn't have the wits to figure it out till now. And once he did it broke his tiny little heart.

Only a wall from him now Michaela was trying to get the young man to sleep and let the drug run through his system and he was putting up quite the protest by the sounds of it; he was giggling and grinning but no one else was. Marvin would've offered to help settle him but it hurt to see him in this state. It felt rather hypocritical too, knowing he was a frequent user of codeine and promethazine but it hurt when he saw other's the way they saw himself. Because he knew why they were consuming it and that was enough to kick the bottle. It rattled him right from deep down in his gut and made his chest ache just thinking about it. He hated it and he couldn't even begin to imagine how Kayla was feeling at this very moment.

After a while though the apartment fell quiet, and the sound of Oakley's bedroom door creaking shut echoed down the hallway into the open living room that Marvin still occupied. Michaela came with the sound too with a huff and threw herself down onto the sofa without a care of how she landed.

"He loves you uno"

The girl's ears perked at his sudden statement but she stilled. How would he know something like that? She couldn't believe it, so she ignored it. It was now the man's turn to huff. He knew she'd never believe it even if it came from Oakley himself he just wish she would. He wished the boy would spill all his feelings to her instead, confess his love and pour his heart out for all its glory. It's what's best for his poor little broken soul. But he didn't care. And he hated him simply for that only.

"Ano you don't believe me, I understand ya. But if there's one ting you should do it's truss me when I say he loves you. Only you. He's a frightened kid in 'is head n he's too scared to tell you anything but he does. I'd know."

Michaela was no longer stuck in her previous landing position and had contorted herself in a way that she could look at Marvin. His face held sorrow, but an innocent smile tugged at his lips as he spoke; he was staring contently at his hands and twiddling the strings on his tracksuit. Kayla hummed in response after a minute or two and decided to ignore most of what the man had said. All except one thing, 'I'd know'

She once again shifted and shoved her face into a sofa cushion as she pulled the grey throw over her body and up to her nose. The girl took a deep breath and the familiar smell of Oakley entered her nose. He had a very specific scent: a mix of Chanel cologne and freshly washed bed sheets. Though he himself had a very specific smell. He smelt oddly human, and Kayla giggled at the thought until she realised she had done that out loud and stopped herself. By the time she did, she realised she was dozing off quicker than she ever did. The smell of Oakley was comforting and reassuring and relaxing, she loved it. She wondered if she loved him too, but she was already asleep before she could ponder the thought for too long.

The past few days had been eventful which meant a severe lack of sleep for all of them. It was tiring and distressing for all parties, but none of them would ever admit it. They were all wondering where the perfect little picturesque life they previously had had gone.
The problem was that she cared too much and he cared not enough; Marvin wanted what was best and the pair just wanted love.