(Edited)

She was too preoccupied with Ashton to realize how angry and hurt Michael was, or the fact that he wasn't even in the room. She's been ignoring me the whole freaking day, and she's all over him.

"You started ignoring her first," Jason said, walking into the hall where Michael was hiding. "And you seriously need to stop saying your thoughts out-loud mate. Its going to bring you into a lot of shit one day." He came to a stop next to Michael.

Michael and Jason stood against the wall in the hall, facing the entrance of the screening room. From where Michael was standing, he could see a clear view of Autumn and Ashton. Im going to punch his face black and blue for touching her. Jason leaned closer to Michael to see what it was that he was glaring at and chuckled.

"What's going on with you? Are you on your man period?" Jason joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Michael shot him a glare and crossed his arms over his chest, leaning back, propping one foot against the wall. Jason rolled his eyes and took a replica of Michaels stance, only looking more laidback than Michael ever could.

Michael looked away. "I don't wanna talk about it," he mumbled.

"I don't care, now spill it!" Michael groaned.

He knew Jason wouldnt drop it until he knew everything. Jason had this quirk about him, since he was a little boy, to know every single detail of whatever the story was. If something sparked his interest, he wouldnt drop it until every nook, and cranny got thoroughly searched. Michael guessed it started ever since the disappearance of his little sister. That was one story that he never got the end off.

"Stop stalling and tell me already," Jason spoke up again, shoving him lightly. Michael sighed and looked over at Autumn. She was laughing about something Ashton was saying.

"The day I stormed out of the cafeteria, my dad had called me. Autumn found me outside, and I asked her to take me somewhere," Michael started to explain to Jason; he figured he might as well tell Jason, he was his best friend after all. Michael proceeded to tell him where they ended up and what they did. He came clean to her about his father and Elizabeth. How Michael asked her to dance in the middle of nowhere and afterwards, drove her to his house. How they slept in each other's arms that night and the next morning she was gone and he hadnt heard from her until today.

"So thats my problem! I thought... Nothing." Michael shook his head. I can't think that way.

"Finish that sentence, Michael!" Jason demanded, now standing in front of his friend.

"No."

"Finish it," he pressed.

"I thought she liked me, okay! I thought that she felt how I felt, how I still feel." Michael whispered, frustrated. Jason smirked, causing Michaels eyes to widen; he realized what he just threw out in the open.

"Shit!" he cursed, punching the wall behind him. I like Autumn, he thought, while running his hands through his hair.

Jason grabbed the hand that Michael punched the wall with, inspecting it for any damage. "That was unnecessary," He scolded, dropping Michaels hand.

He looked over to the entrance of the screening room, and when he was sure that no one was coming out, he proceeded. "You can't stand the fact that Ashton is holding Autumn, holding your girl. That's why it pisses you off so much that she's in his arms and not yours. You wish you were the one making her smile and not him." Michael looked over to where Jason pointed, hanging on to his every word. He clenched his fist.

"You do realize that he's only messing with her to push your buttons. He knows how you feel about Autumn, goodness all of us do. The only ones oblivious to their feelings are you and Autumn." Jason sighed and looked over at his best friend, his brother from another mother. He knew what Michaels problem was. "Ashton loves Autumn but only as a sister, and deep down, you know that. But here's the harsh truth mate, there will come a day when a guy walks into her life and swoops her of her feet, and you are left completely forgotten."

Michael clenched his jaw; Jason was the one pressing his buttons right now. If he didn't stop, Michael was going to punch him.

"You can't let fear hold you back. You can't let it ruin your life. Autumn isn't Elizabeth," Jason whispered, harshly. Michael snapped, the thought of hearing the truth blinding him with anger.

"Enough!" Michael exclaimed, grabbing Jason by the collar of his shirt pushing him up against the wall. Jason was a big guy, but Michael had always been stronger than him.

"Don't enough me! You need to get it through your thick skull that they are not the same person!" Jason huffed getting awfully annoyed now. He slapped Michaels hand lightly. "Now let go of me, youre acting like a caveman," he said, completely unbothered.

He knew Michael could fight and knock people out with one hook, but something he was certain off was that he would never do anything to harm his loved ones. Michael huffed, defeated. He let Jason go and took a step back; he hated hearing the truth sometimes.

"Idiot got my shirt all wrinkled," Jason mumbled not paying attention.

Michael chuckled and pulled Jasons shirt straight. He looked at him and realized that Jason was speaking the truth. "I'm sorry, J, I don't want to get hurt again. I barely made it through the first time. But I also don't want to lose her, and she's hiding so much from me, from everyone. I don't know anymore."

Jason shook his head, his eyes filled with amusement; they had a strange friendship. He turned Michaels body around so that he could look at Autumn. He walked behind Michael and held onto his shoulders.

"Look at her," he said. "You probably haven't noticed because you've been too busy letting fear cloud your judgment, but that little blonde hasn't stopped looking this way since you left the room. You have her full attention now you need to work on winning her heart, and then she will trust you enough to share her secrets."

As soon as Jason stopped talking, their eyes met; they sparkled with joy. Her smile was breathtaking, and Michael knew it was something he couldnt live without. Michael also knew that behind those sparkling eyes and breathtaking smile laid a girl with the world on her shoulders. And in that precise moment, he knew he wanted to take her burdens away, save her. Goodness forbids if she was going to make it easy for him.

After a very long and frustrating afternoon with his friends, Michael was tired. The sun had set outside, and the group sat lazily talking with one another. Michael and Jason had switched seats with Mason and Emily because their couch was much bigger and Emily wanted to lie down. Autumn laid with her body slumped next to Ashton; his body back against the leather seat, eyes closed.

Since Michael came back into the room, from his talk with Jason, he felt much lighter. He tried talking to Autumn more; the guilt of how he treated her was eating him up alive. She was hesitant, it was evident in her eyes, but Michael wasnt going to give up. Now that he got himself in check and Jason to back him up, he was ready to take on the world. Michael was still upset with how she left him and why she had been MIA all this time, but he knew that he could have handled it better, he should have.

"Guys, I think Im going to take Emily to my room. She fell asleep," Mason said, kissing her forehead.

Jason leaned forward, placing his hand on his knees. "Yea, I guess its time for us to go to bed too." He scratched his chin and looked at everyone. "I'll take my room. Mason can share with Emily, Michael you have yours and Ash you and Autumn can sleep here."

Even though Michael knew that Ashton was his best friend and that he would never do anything with Autumn to hurt him, he couldnt help but jab Jason in the ribs with his elbow.

"Shit!" Jason breathed. He glared at Michael and held onto his ribs to soothe the pain. Michael furrowed his eyebrows. "Or we can all sleep in here," Jason huffed annoyed with Michael. "Mace pop open the couch you guys can sleep on the sofa bed. I'll-" Ashton cut him off.

"Autumn and I will share the mattress, and you guys can have the couches," He said, looking at Jason for approval.

"No-" Michael started to object, but Jason held him back.

Ashton smiled smugly. "Sorry mate, can't win them all." Michael glared at him; his previous relaxed persona wiped off. For someone who only liked Autumn as a friend, he sure was trying hard.

Autumn rolled her eyes and crawled away from Ashton, who was going to fetch the mattress and extra pillows and blankets. She sat with her back against the armrest of the couch, her knees pressed up against her. She was wearing black leggings and an oversized hoody, but she still looked beautiful. Mason picked Emily up bridal style while Michael pulled the sofa bed out for them. Jason handed him a blanket and left to help Ashton.

After Michael finished helping Mason, he sat down on the couch, looking at Autumn. She sat with her chin placed on her knees. Autumn didnt look at him; a distant look in her eyes. Michael, on the other hand, couldnt look away from her; she drew him in like a moth to a flame. He sat forward on the couch, his shoulders stiff. He wouldnt stop feeling on edge until he fixed things between them. She looked up, and their eyes met. Michael stalked over to her like a predator, ready to ravish his prey. He sat right in front of her, their knees touching. Against his better judgment, he placed his hand on her cheek. Autumn shuddered against his touch, fighting against her mind, her heart won the battle, and she leaned into him.

Michael held her stare, fiercely. Her blue, grey eyes had a storm brewing. "Why did you leave?" he asked in a whisper. She made his confident self disappear. Around her, he felt insecure.

"I didn't want to see the look of regret on your face when you woke up." She mumbled, looking down fiddling with her thumbs.

Michael huffed, annoyed. "You shouldn't have jumped to a conclusion because I sure as hell didnt regret anything up until I woke up without you." He removed the hand from her cheek and placed it on her thigh. "But when I woke up and you were gone..." he sighed and shook his head. "I thought that you regretted having that night." She stayed quiet and looked at him while he talked. He figured he had nothing to lose, so why not put all of his thoughts out there.

"I've never before had the strongest urge to know what you were thinking than at that exact moment." Michael felt beaten. The mere thought of losing her was driving him crazy. One thing was for sure Elizabeth had never made him feel this way.

"Michael, I didn't regret anything that happened that night," Autumn said, looking at him. Michael didn't look at her. He didnt need her to say things out of pity.

"Michael." When he wouldnt look at her, she turned his face towards her. "Michael, I really li-" before she could finish her sentence, Jason and Ashton walked in, interrupting her. Michaels stomach filled with butterflies, did he imagine it? Was she really going to say she liked him?

"I'm just toying with him. It ain't my fault his so freaking whipped and doesn't even know it!" Ashton told Jason chuckling, while they walked in. They placed the mattress down against the couch where Michael and Autumn were sitting.

Mason threw four pillows on top of Autumn and got into bed with Emily. He hugged her body closer to him and kissed her forehead. "Goodnight," Autumn cooed at their cuteness and Mason flipped her off.

Ashton prepared the mattress with blankets and took two pillows for him and Autumn. One of them was right next to the couch, and Autumn decided to claim it. She threw herself backwards, her head on the pillow and her feet still on the couch.

"I have found my final resting place." She informed the boys, triumphantly. That put a smile on Michael's face, and everyone chuckled.

"Feisty, wouldn't you rather sleep on this side?" Ashton asked, pointing at the other pillow that was placed far away from Michael.

Autumn smiled at him. "No thanks Ash, I'm quite happy over here."

Michael couldn't help but feel smug. "Sorry mate, can't win them all." He said, throwing Ashton's own words back at him. Jason shot him a warning glare, and Michael chuckled.

Autumn started to doze off. Michael took her legs and placed them on the mattress covering her up. She mumbled incoherently and snuggled into the pillow.

Michael placed a sweet kiss on her forehead and whispered, "Goodnight Princess."

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