ᵢₘₐgᵢₙₑ ➳ Michael Gray [ON HOLD]

➳ eighteen - the babysitter

《 when you stop doing things for fun you might as well be dead 》

➳

The familiar chime of Michael's alarm could be heard from Arabella's room, breaking the tranquil silence that she was rather enjoying. She had become accustomed to the sound that often woke her as well as Michael. Today was different however, Arabella had already been awake by the time the alarm rang. Last nights conversation was at the forefront of her mind, she usually considered it a win whenever Michael opened up to her, but the more she ran over the conversation in her head the deeper the pit in her stomach felt.

Arabella could sense Michael's suppressed emotions and had a strong compulsion to help him. Though her head was in two places, she wanted to help him come to terms with his past and his current place in the family. She also knew he needed to have to he mentality to help himself and to be open to advice from others.

Footsteps disrupted her train of thought, and a quiet tap on her door followed. Arabella let out a small sigh before muttering, "You may enter."

Michael's head came into view as he looked around the door before setting his gaze on the figure who was still wrapped in the grey sheets, "You getting ready soon? John's on his way with the kids now."

Michael waited a moment before he received a nod in response, followed by a string of words he couldn't quite decipher through Arabella's murmurs. Rather than questioning her, he instead departed to greet his brother upon his arrival, closing the door behind him before making his way downstairs, Lennox eagerly nipping at his heels, assuming that he would be getting his usual morning treat that Michael had gotten into a routine of giving him.

You could almost imagine the look on his face when Michael approached the front door instead of the kitchen. He opened the door, before looking back to find Lennox sat at the entrance of the kitchen, slightly whimpering with pleading eyes. Hanging his head in defeat, he left the door open as John's car pulled up and turned on his heels to make his way past the pup, whose head shot up as he realized what was going to happen.

Michael got out two treats, one for Lennox, who happily took it, and another that he would give to Hades when he came down, that Lennox also tried to sneak.

"No, no, no, that's for your brother." Michael scolded the dog, rolling his eyes at himself, mentally noting how ridiculous he probably sounded, but it was a habit he had picked up from the woman he lived with, one that he was struggling to get out of.

And that was when his worst nightmare occurred.

"Look at you Michael! The perfect dog parent, huh? Man, Ara's really done a number on you, hasn't she?" John's boisterous voice echoed as he laughed loudly at the annoyance that was quick to cover his cousin's face.

Three overly hyper kids emerged from behind John and sprinted into the house, cheering loudly as a smaller child toddled behind them. Michael found himself becoming more and more grateful that he wasn't going to be home to deal with them, and he found himself feeling more and more sympathy for Arabella, especially as Louis flipped over the back of the couch, toppling on top of his brother and sister.