#7

Summary:

After Gavin's sudden death, Michael finds himself going into denial. Even after seeing all the proof that Gavin is gone, Michael can't bring himself to believe he's dead.

How long has it been? How long has to been since everyone said Gavin was dead?  I didn't know what they were talking about. Gavin wasn't dead. He was still here, being his idiotic self.
Although I will say, he has been quieter.
I vaguely remember the day Geoff approached me and told me about this 'car accident' Gavin was in with Barbara.

~ Flashback ~

I was sitting in the Achievement Hunter office, playing some random game Ray told me to play. It wasn't that entertaining, but it was addicting.
Suddenly, the door crashed open, making everyone turn in their seats and stare at Geoff. Well... A sad and broken Geoff.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Jack and Ryan asked, quickly getting up and approaching Geoff.
But Geoff ignored them and turned to me. He kneeled down in front of me and took my hands in his, making me look at him with an 'Are you fucking kidding me' look.
"Michael... I have some bad news," He choked out. I cocked my head at him, questioning his actions and words.
"Gavin and Barbara were in a car accident. Barbara's okay and recovering in the hospital but... Gavin wasn't as lucky. He... He was killed during the accident. I'm so sorry, Michael," Geoff sobbed out.

~ End of Flashback ~

I don't remember much after that, but Ray told me it was probably better that I didn't.
I looked around my living room, seeing things that I hadn't noticed before. Geoff said I had begun hallucinating due to lack of food and drinks but I didn't see what he was talking about. Everything seemed fine to me.
"Mi-cool..." I heard Gavin say. I turned my head towards the voice only to see nothing there. Gavin loved to hide on me.
I took a deep breath and enjoyed the quiet, darkness of my life, hearing Gavin's voice talk to me.

"Michael, come on, we're taking you to a therapist," Ray urged me. Jack and Geoff stood behind him, with Ryan standing at the door.
"Why? I don't see what's wrong," I responded calmly. Ray looked back at Geoff and Jack, pleading for help.
"Michael, you need help. You're in denial," Jack told me.
"In denial? About what?" I asked them curiously.
"About Gavin's death," Geoff growled at me through clenched teeth.
"I don't know why you keep saying Gavin's dead. He doesn't appreciate it you know," I retorted.
Geoff obviously had enough or something because he stepped forward and grabbed me, yanking me up. Jack and Ray helped him to shove me out the door and to Ray's car.
When we arrived to the counseling place, Geoff checked us in and waited patiently for the therapist to come out.
"Come on, Michael," Geoff urged me, grabbing my wrist and dragging me into the room.
"So, Mr. Jones, it seems you are having some trouble accepting your fiancé's death, correct?" The therapist asked me. I looked at him, giving him a confused look.
"He isn't dead though," I replied.
"Okay, so this is a much more serious case then what I'm used to, but we'll work through this," The therapist said, writing down things.
So, the therapist continued to ask questions that I replied with me own questions and answers. They kept drilling this idea that Gavin was dead into my head but I wasn't gonna have it. He wasn't dead, not that I could see.

The next day, Geoff, Jack, Ryan, and Ray got me to go on a car ride with them. They were secretive about where they were going but they still continued to drive and ignored my constant questions.
When we arrived to where we were going, I watched the guys in confusion as they began to get teary eyed. I followed them, looking around at all the demolished cars.
When we arrived to what looked like Barbara's car, Geoff and Ryan pried open the passenger side door while Jack and Ray wrapped an arm around my waist. I didn't like the closeness provided by them. It felt awkward.
"Michael, look. This is where Gavin died. See this? This is his blood. This is actual proof that Gavin is dead. Can you believe us now?" Geoff asked.
I stepped forward and looked around inside the car. Dried blood stained the seat and dash. I saw a few short blond hairs stuck to the blood as well.
I felt something click in my head.
"Who knows, maybe that's Barbara's blood and hair," I told them, turning to face them all again. Geoff and Ray both face palmed while Jack and Ryan sighed in defeat.
When we drove back home, Geoff walked me into my apartment. He stopped me outside my apartment door and turned me around to face him. He gripped my shoulders tightly and fixed me with a serious and sad look.
"Michael, I don't understand what more I can do for you. You've seen the car Gavin died in, you went to his funeral, hell, you even saw his dead body! I know this is probably incredibly traumatizing for you, but you need to understand that Gavin's gone and he isn't coming back. If you won't do it for yourself or us, do it for Gavin," Geoff pleaded me. He sighed when I gave him a look of disbelief and he turned back to the elevator.

A week went by since I last saw the guys. My appearance became disturbing due to the lack of showers I took.
But lately, I hadn't been able to do much of anything. I laid in my bed all day, thinking. It was like my mind was having an internal war with itself. One side being that Gavin is dead, and the other being that Gavin is alive.
I wanted to believe the latter, I truly did. But as time went on, I started to realize that the the latter was not true.
One day, I got out of bed and cleaned myself up. I grabbed my keys and made my way to my car. For a moment I forgot how to even start it due to my lack of use with it, but I quickly remembered and made my way on the road.
Ten minutes later, I stopped the car at my destination. I took a deep breath, realizing that the war in my head was about to come to an end.
I stepped out of my car and weaved my way through the numerous stone statues of remembrance. Nobody else was in the same area as me, meaning I could do my thing in peace.
When I made it to a certain grave, I sat down on the lush grass and looked at it dead on. (AN: That pun though)
On the stone read, Gavin Free 1988-2016.
I looked around the stone, noticing the numerous flowers surrounding it, some dead and some fresh. I picked up a dead rose and started plucking away the petals.
"Hey, Gavin," I muttered.
No response.
"I probably look like an idiot to anyone that's watching, but... That's what I am. And you," I continued.
Still, no response.
"Anyway, ever since you supposedly died... People have been really depressed. Barbara feels especially bad. She hasn't stopped crying," I went on.
Once again, no response.
"My point is that, I don't know what I believe anymore. I feel like your still alive but... I mean I've seen the proof that you're not. Hell, I'm sitting in front of your grave! Maybe it's just my way of letting go of you. I've never been someone who likes to show weakness, you know, like crying and stuff. So, maybe by believing you're not dead... I'm letting go of you," I continued.
Again, no response.
I felt tears prick at my eyes as I realized that the war in my head was over. Gavin was dead. He was truly and utterly dead. All the proof I was shown was real. There was no more denying it.
Gavin is dead.
"I can't believe you're gone. I should've never let you go out with Barbara for lunch. I should've just listened to you and taken you out like I promised. God... This is my fault, isn't it? Your death is all my fault because I broke a promise to you," I choked out.
There was still no response.
"I miss you, Gav. I miss you being here and joking around, calling me Mi-cool, making up words, being your idiotic self. I miss you pestering me to take care of my clothes and pick up my trash. I miss you waking me up at the crack of dawn just so we can watch the sunrise. I miss waking up in the middle of the night to find you in the kitchen shoving every type of junk food into your mouth. I miss you singing terribly to weird British songs I've never heard of. I miss you..." I got cut off when a choking sob came over.
Once more, no response.
"I love you, Gavin. I really, really love you. I'm so sorry," I finished.
Suddenly, a sharp breeze blew over me, tossing my curls about. I looked up and saw a tall, skinny man standing in front of me. His blond hair showed brightly against his tan skin and beamed gold in the sunlight. His nose was abnormally large and his smile was ever present on his face.
Now, anyone would think this was Gavin. But what made him different was the fact that two large, pure white wings stretched out behind him, with a shimmering, golden halo topping his blond hair. He bent down before me, and took my hand in his. Strangely enough, I could feel it.
"I love you too, Mi-cool. We'll meet again in due time. Until then, live your life, and know I'll always be with you," Gavin whispered to me, he reached forward and pet my cheek before letting the breeze blow him away.
I watched him disappear, wondering if my hallucinations had actually become that vivid. But... Gavin's scent lingered in the air, even after he disappeared.
I have no idea how long I sat there, but suddenly I felt a hand touch my shoulder making me jump.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Geoff told me. I nodded and watched him sit down next to me.
"What are you doing here?" He asked me again.
"Finally accepting Gavin's death," I told him.
Geoff looked at me for a moment in disbelief. When I turned to look at him he eyed me with suspicion.
"So you really believe Gavin's dead now?" Geoff asked me. I nodded and looked back at his grave.
"Are you gonna be okay?" Geoff asked me, a fathering tone in his voice.
I thought for a moment, thinking about what Gavin had said to me. He wants me to live my life, and he'll be with me every step of the way. He doesn't want me to be depressed.
"Yeah, Geoff, I think I'm gonna be okay," I responded with a slight smile, looking at Geoff. Geoff smiled back at me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we watched the sun set in the distance, Gavin watching over the both of us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Isn't it strange how story ideas come to your mind. Like, I made this entire one-shot up because I looked up the definition to denial because I needed it for another story.
Anyway, this is kinda like the opposite view from the last one-shot I wrote. I actually just realized that.
Anyway, let me know what you think of this. If it's not that good, I apologize. I've got a lot of things on my mind and I'm surprised I even managed to write anything this week.
Thanks for reading!