A/N : hiiii the eleventh chapter is herrre ! Enjoy xx

Michael
~

Four days had passed, now. Four days of awkwardness between Blanche and I. We kept staring at each other without saying anything. Each time I caught her watching me, she looked down and blushed.

She kept avoiding me ; the only times we were in the same room were during meals. And they were always silent meals. My family would talk to Blanche, and I'd listen without saying any words.

So awkward.

I tried to occupy myself by staying in the studio or locking myself in my room to write songs all day. I had a lot of inspiration, these last few days.

I finished writing the song about Blanche, and I named it 'For All Time'. Because our love was for all time...

One night, I heard her cry in her room and my heart fell. I wanted to run out of bed, take her in my arms and tell her that everything will be fine.

But I couldn't.

I sighed and continued to walk down the hallway, going back to my bedroom. When I saw the door slightly open, I furrowed my brows. I always close the door, usually.

Quietly, I took a peek inside and widened my eyes.

Blanche was sitting on my bed. Her hands were grasping a picture. The same I saw her staring at a few days ago. Her long hair was hiding her beautiful face but I caught a glance of a sad smile on her lips.

I watched her in silence, admiring what I could see. She was still in her cute pajamas, habit that I was used to make fun of.

It seemed like minutes passed, and she was still looking at the picture, grasping the frame for dear life. A tear ran down her cheek and fell on the picture.

I couldn't let her cry in front of me. I knew I wouldn't be able to control myself and would run to her.

So, I decided to make my presence known.

I cleared my throat softly and Blanche looked up to me with surprised eyes.

"Hi," I whispered slowly as I took a step forward.

Blanche hurried to lay the picture back on the table and wiped her tears away.

"Hi," she said back, her voice hoarse like she had just woken up. "Uhm... I'm sorry, I shouldn't be here." she apologized, avoiding my stare.

"It's okay," I replied immediately. "It's your room, too." I reminded her and took another step forward.

I liked it when we were talking to each other softly. When we were not arguing... It seemed like it was the only thing we were doing these past few days, when in reality, we rarely talked to each other.

"You like this picture, don't you ?" I asked. I was now right in front of the bed, looking down at her. She nodded her head and sighed, looking at the picture again. She placed a strand of her hair behind her ear and- oh how she was cute...

I sat on the bed, keeping a small yet weird distance from her. "It's the only one I have." I admitted and Blanche looked at me with confusion. "Of us." I completed and she looked back down. "You took everything else..." I drifted off and looked at her.

Her curls were falling down on her face and, oh, how I wanted to run my hand in them, like I used to do. Her eyes were troubled with frustration, stress, and I just wanted to hug her and take care of her. I missed her so much.

"I miss you..." I whispered without even realizing and widened my eyes.

Blanche raised her brows in surprise but cleared her throat to take off any expression on her face. She raised from the bed and moved forward to the door.

"Where are you going ?" I asked urgently, running after her.

When she stopped to turn to me, I almost bumped into her.

"I-I have to leave," she said slowly with coldness in her voice. I looked at her worriedly.

Leave ?

"What do you mean ?" I asked, reaching to grip on her fingers but she crossed her arms the second she felt my touch.

"I can't stay here anymore, Michael." she admitted and I furrowed my brows.

"What ?!" I asked urgently. "You can't leave me now, Blanche." I pleaded with hurt in my eyes.

I couldn't let her go from me. Not again.

"I'm sorry, Michael. But this won't work." she said, pointing between her and me.

My heart winced and I held her arm before she could walk away.

"Please, Blanche. I love you." I whispered painfully as I felt tears rushing to my eyes.

"I'm sorry." she repeated, looking me dead in the eyes. "That's what you kept saying when you threw me away."

And she left.

Blanche
~

"Are you sure you'll be fine ?" Jermaine asked with concern as I took my suitcase from the car. He was looking me dead in the eyes with seriousness.

I asked him to drive me to the airport, and he nicely accepted.

I smiled genuinely at him and squeezed the suitcase handle. "Of course !" I exclaimed. He sighed and nodded.

We said our goodbyes and I watched his car drive in the distance.

I entered the airport and waited for my plane to be ready.

~

"Tell me if there's anything wrong." Danielle told me with a smile.

I nodded and she gave me the keys of my new apartment. I thanked her and waited for her to leave before entering the apartment.

I sighed and looked around. It was smaller than my old place, but I didn't mind. There were large windows, letting the sunlight pour inside. Everything was well-decorated and clean. 

Completely different from my old apartment. And I wanted to keep it that way. I wanted to start my life all over. And living in a new place was a good start.

Staying at Hayvenhurst for a few days helped me out and I was able to clear my mind. Michael's family was so nice to me, and understanding. The only reason that made me feel uncomfortable was that Michael was there.

So, I had to leave.

At least, now, I knew why he broke up with me. I wasn't confused anymore, even though I thought he was so dump to listen to his manager.

Anyway, that was the past. I had to move forward and leave those painful memories.

I needed to be myself. I needed to be happy. I deserved happiness.

I thought about what Ms. Lockwood told a few weeks ago ; that I should start seeing new guys.

She was right.

I thought about that a lot, lately. I wanted to feel love again. I wanted to be loved and love someone. I was ready again. I couldn't change my opinion about love because of my ruined relationship with Michael. Guys weren't all like him.

Were they ?

"Ms. Lockwood !" I gasped as I remembered that I hadn't seen her in a while. She probably tried to reach for me but didn't find me. And she probably saw my apartment's state.

I needed to see her.

In a hurry, I took my purse and ran down the stairs of the building. When I passed the doors and was met by small drops of rain, I looked around to find a taxi.

I lifted my hand when I saw one not so far from where I was. The driver parked his car in front of me and I climbed in.

I gave him my old apartment address and waited patiently on the passenger seat, looking outside the window, watching the rain fall down.

~

I bit my lip nervously as I waited for the door to open. When it didn't, I knocked again and tapped my foot.

The door suddenly opened and revealed Ms. Lockwood's face.

"Oh Blanche !" she cooed when she recognized me and took me in her arms. I sighed with relief against her shoulder and felt her hand running down my back. "I was so worried..." she whispered softly.

When we let go of each other, she studied my face like she was used to do and asked me. "What happened to your apartment ?"

I sighed and looked at the door right next to us. The police took care of scotching their "Do Not Cross Police Line" around the doorway.

It looked like a crime scene happened inside.

"Someone broke inside when I was at my parents'." I explained as I looked back at her shocked eyes. "I had nowhere to go, but Michael invited me to Hayvenhurst." her eyes widened even more.

"Michael ?!" she asked. "As in your ex ?" I nodded and sighed.

"Oh, honey..." she cooed again after a few minutes of silence. "I'm so sorry for what happened to you..." she said and hugged me once again.

I closed my eyes and relaxed in her arms.

"It's okay. I'm fine. I found a new place." I told her and let her go. "It's not so far from here."

"You got me so worried..." she admitted painfully. "But I'm relieved to see you're fine."

I smiled down at her and she then jumped as if a realization came to her mind. "Come in, sweetheart ! Come in !" she exclaimed and I chuckled softly.

I entered her apartment and she led me to her living room, where we sat on the same couch.

We made small talk ; her describing her trip to her son's, and me to my parents'. After some minutes, she brang hot chocolates and we sipped on our cups quietly.

"So, what happened in Hayvenhurst ?" Ms. Lockwood asked me, laying her cup on the coffee table as she looked at me with curious eyes.

I sighed and searched for my words, trying to tell her as much details as I could. I told her everything, from when Janet came in my hotel and invited me to their house, to when Michael admitted he still loved me. And of course ; Andrew.

"His manager ?" she gasped, placing her hand against her mouth in shock. I nodded sadly and finished my hot chocolate.

"Yeah... What an asshole, honestly..." I cursed shamelessly. "And I'm so disappointed that Michael listened to him. I can't even believe it." I confessed.

Ms. Lockwood turned her head side to side in a disapproval way as she muttered something under her breath.

"How could he have broken up with you if he still loved you..." she drifted off and puffed.

"Yeah... I don't understand." I agreed. "Anyway." I said and cleared my throat. "I want to forget everything about it and start all over." I told her and she smiled at me.

"That's good to hear. You deserve to be happy, Blanche." she said and layed her hand on top of mine, caressing my knuckles softly in a motherly way.

"I will. I'm sure I will." I smiled.

A/N : boring chapter I know but Blanche and Ms. Lockwood literally needed to meet up again ! And omgg Michael honestly breaks my heart... :((( pooor boy...
Anyway ! I hoped you enjoy this chapter !