as requested, here's a sequel to backseat serenade!

-ross ♡ 

Mikey looks different.

Not a bad different--a good different. 

But everything else is the same.

His smile, his laugh.  The way his eyes light up when he talks about music. The mysterious aura that he carries with him. The way his mouth involuntarily twitches when Pete says something even remotely suggestive.

"So," Mikey says. "I heard you're writing a new album."

"Everybody is," Pete replies, sipping his Coke. "2014 is the year of twenty-something stardom."

"And then you have the old men in their gold-plated Jaguars with their guitars."

Pete grins, "So, basically just McCartney?"

Mikey snorts. "Probably."

He's different.

The same. 

He's everything and nothing. Nowhere and everywhere. 

Pete takes a sip of his drink. "Do you remember our last day of Warped?"

Mikey flinches, and Pete knows he remembers. How could either of them forget? The smell of summer and sweat still plagues Pete even now. 

Pete remembers everything. Every last detail.

The way everything was rushed; because they just had to get one last time in. It was impossible not to. The way everything seemed distant, even Mikey. The way Mikey's eyes watered over when they said their final goodbyes.

The way Pete begged Mikey to stay with him.

The way Mikey refused gently, only saying that he didn't want Pete to live a life that he'd regret. 

The way Mikey's hands held his chin and wiped away his tears.

The last kiss he shared with Mikey. The one that tasted like salt and coffee and smoke and regret.

Mikey nods softly. 

"Why didn't you stay?"

"Because I was your first, Pete. And when your first leaves, you'll do anything to stay with them. It happened to me, and if I would have stayed with him, I would never have been in the band. I had to let you go for your own good," Mikey says as if it's the simplest thing to understand.

"Will you stay now? Now that this isn't my first?"

Mikey makes eye contact, and Pete looks away for a fleeting second before meeting his gaze again. His eyes sparkle in the soft moonlight and comfort Pete for a split second before the answer tumbles from his lips.

 He takes a deep breath and reaches across the table, resting his hand lightly on top of Pete's. "You know what?" He asks, the corner of his lip turning up ever-so-slightly, "I think I will."