Chapter Fifteen:

"So, you sure you can make it. Like you have a ride and stuff?" Geoff asked me as we walked out of school. My gaze lingered on Michael a second to long, making Geoff sigh in exasperation.

"You can invite him too. So long as he doesn't murder any of us," Geoff said, catching my attention. I blinked in surprise, not thinking Geoff would allow such a thing.

"Are you sure? I mean, I'd get it if you didn't want him..." I trailed off as Geoff waved his hand.

"I think it's time we expand our group, don't you think? We've had uneven teams for too long anyway," Geoff said, winking at me as I smiled. "Both of you, my house, 8 sharp."

I playfully saluted him in response and turned around. Marching off, I listened to Geoff's laughter dull as I walked towards my home. However, when I turned the corner, my walk slowed as I waited for Michael to catch up, knowing he'd be taking this same route home.

And as I had guessed, Michael caught up to me until our feet walked in line with each other's. I watched as our shoes moved, (well shoes and boot) I felt the familiar feeling of my heart fluttering as I listened to the pat of his shoes on the sidewalk. However, I quickly remembered the invitation I had to send out.

"So, Geoff is having a small get together. Just me, him, Ray, Jack, and Ryan... and hopefully you," I said, waiting for a positive response.

"Can't. Sorry," He told me, obviously not being sorry.

"Yeah? And why is that? Tell me what is so important that you can't come hang out with people who want to see you again," I asked, knowing he was simply coming up with a lie to get out of this.

Michael didn't respond. He simply stared at the ground, watching as his feet moved in perfect sync with mine.

"Exactly. Now, be ready at around 8. And if you've got any weed, bring that too. Geoff's already supplying us with beer and his bong. Ray's got enough weed to get us all high but the more the merrier, right?" I said, smiling at Michael. Again, he didn't respond. After a minute of silence, I thought of the most random possible statement I could.

"Do you think bald guys use body wash or shampoo to wash their head?" I asked, watching as Michael's head swung around to give me a look.

"What the fuck?"

"Well at least I got something out of you. So, will I be seeing you tonight?" I asked, watching as our houses came into view.

"Yeah... yeah I guess. What's going to be happening there?" He asked, a twinge of nervousness in his voice.

"We're just gonna get drunk and high, order a ton of food and play video games. You know, typical stuff," I told him. I saw Michael's face light up slightly.

"Sounds cool. I'll be at your house later," Michael said, waving me off.

Tonight was going to be great.

...

"Jesus Christ Gavin, I can't breath in here," George yelled at me, as I sprayed more cologne.

"Shut up, mate. If you're talking, you're breathing," I said, sending him a playful glare.

"It's comments like those that make you lose your ride," George said, laying down on my bed. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my phone, shoving George slightly so he'd get up.

I reached under my bed to retrieve my grinder however when I pulled out the box that I kept it in, I found it to be empty. My heart dropped as I immediately began thinking of the possibility of my mother finding my grinder. However, when I heard a dull grind I immediately knew who had it.

"I swear, George, one of these days you're going to give me a heart attack," I said, snatching the grinder and shoving it into my shorts pocket. George smirked and opened my door to my room, leading me down the hall.

When I reached the front door, as if on cue my heart began beating faster.

My mother was smiling at the red headed boy as he stood in the entrance to our house. He looked uncomfortable, not yet being fully acquainted with my mother. But when he saw me, he relaxed a little more, giving the three of us a half hearted smile.

"Alright Gavin, you be good and stay-," My mother began as I felt my cheeks redden.

"Mum, I'm fifteen. I've heard that statement a million times. Besides this is just a routine visit to Geoff's. I'll be fine," I reminded her. She nodded and gave me a small smile. Kissing her cheek, I led George and Michael out the door.

"So... did you manage to get any-" I started before Michael pulled out a sandwich bag with weed lining the bottom of it. A smirk spread on my face as I realized for perhaps the tenth time that tonight was going to be great.

When we arrived at Geoff's, Ray was just walking inside. He stopped when he saw us hop out of my brother's car. Ray trotted up to us and slung an arm around my neck as I turned to say good bye to my brother.

"Ay, my main man Georgie," Ray said, reaching inside the car to fist bump George. George rolled his eyes and half heartedly bumped Ray's fist with his own.

"Alright, Gav, when do you think you'll be done?" George asked, looking tired of us three already.

"Uh..." I trailed off as Geoff came up and slung his arm around my neck as well.

"I'll make sure he gets home. And if he's too drunk he can stay here," Geoff said, winking at me. I nodded and smiled, watching as George nodded as well and drove away.

Once George's car was out of sight, we all turned around to head into Geoff's house. I took note that Jack and Ryan were standing on the porch, watching as we walked inside.

"Alright children. I've got a couple six packs of beer. Do we all want to blaze up first or should we order the pizza?" Geoff asked. Everyone shrugged obviously knowing with option was safer to keep us from getting in trouble.

"Who can act the most sober?" Ray questioned. Everyone looked at him, rolling their eyes at the question.

However, surprisingly, Michael was the one to break the silence.

"Go pack the bong. I'll order the pizza," Michael said, throwing the weed he had at me, in which I only barely caught. Everyone smiled and retreated to Geoff's basement. I handed the weed and grinder off to Ray, deciding to stay upstairs with Michael for a moment.

Once he finished the call, I came up to him, choosing my next words carefully.

"You know, I'm really glad you came," I said, giving him a smile that almost gave away my flirtatious feelings.

"Did you give me much of a choice?" Michael responded, slipping his phone into his pocket.

"Well you could've just not shown up at my house," I said.

"Right, and have you bug me all day at school on Monday about why I didn't come," Michael said, flashing me a cocky smirk. I smirked back before turning and following where the others went downstairs.

When we stepped off the final step, Geoff had just finished packing the bong. Everyone was sat in a circle, with two places left next to Geoff. Michael and I took our spot, sitting close as everyone tried to squeeze in.

"So since we are welcoming a new member to our group, I think he should get first hit off of old Betsy," Geoff said, passing the bong to Michael.

"I thought we named it Edgar?" Ryan questioned.

"It's a girl, Ryan," Geoff said.

"Edgarette?" Ryan said, to which we all laughed.

As Michael took a hit and passed the bong around the circle, we all began telling jokes and recounting old times. Surprisingly, Michael fit in like a missing piece of a puzzle. He didn't miss a single opportunity to crack a joke, and he listened intently to the stories we told, laughing at all the correct spots.

It still amazes me how Michael changed since the first time I talked to him. He wanted nothing to do with me then and now he was hanging out with the people I called my friends, acting as though he had always been apart of this group.

I would even go as far as to say he was my friend.

However, I couldn't hide the fact that I longed to be more. The kiss he and I shared... it was full of passion, something I had never felt before. I wanted more. I needed more. How I'd get it though, I didn't know.

By the time we had packed another bowl, we were all buzzed. I felt my head become foggy and the relaxed feeling swept over me like a waterfall. I leaned back, not realizing there was nothing behind me, to which I landed flat on my back on the carpeted floor of Geoff's basement. I heard the laughter erupt, causing me to laugh as well. I began pretending to make a snow angel, to which laughter erupted again.

"No more for Gav. He's definitely stoned," Jack said, before taking another hit off the bong.

However, despite that statement, I continued to hit the bong two more times before Geoff put it away for later. All of us being adequately stoned, we sat on Geoff's couch and fired up his Xbox. Although within five minutes of us beginning to play, we heard the doorbell ring, reminding us of the pizza we had ordered.

We all looked at each other for a moment, wondering who was going to be the brave soul that retrieved the pizza. When nobody got up, Michael decided to go.

"There's money on the dining table!" Geoff called after him.

When Michael returned with the pizza, we all dove in. Quite literally as well, as we all had a bad case of the munchies.

As we ate the pizza, we cracked open the beers and gulped down the amber liquid. This enhanced all of our highs and made us beyond loopy. Before long, Geoff and Jack were on the floor, rolling around and laughing at Ray falling up the stairs. My stomach began cramping as the laughter wouldn't stop.

But, as if like a light switch, my laughter stopped.

The fog that was in my head seemed to blow away as a dark figure loomed within my head, smiling and laughing at me in a maniacal way.

My breathing quickened and the laughter around me seemed to dull as my thoughts focused on this dark figure. I knew what it was. I just didn't want to admit to myself that I was letting this bother me again.

Suddenly, I felt a hand grab mine and I jerked away as my father's face materialized in my head.

Fear coursed through me as my thoughts raced back to what my father did to me. I could see him in my head, smell him, even feel him grab me and throw me on the bed.

"Gav?" I heard someone say however my thoughts translated even that simple nickname to something horrible and twisted.

I tried to hold back the scream that was bubbling in my throat. This was all in my head. It had to be.

However, my brain screamed at me to defend myself. To be afraid.

I screamed and jumped up, rather clumsily due to my ankle boot, before hiding behind the couch. All the guys watched me as I did this. I curled my legs up into my chest and ducked my head, feeling an onslaught of tears overwhelm me. I could feel where my father had touched me. I could feel his fingers as they did their horrible acts.

This resulted in another scream not as dramatic as the first. My body began shaking as fear and adrenaline raced through my veins, reminding me that I must be in danger.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. For a moment, I struggled against them, wanting my father to let go. However, when they persisted in a gentle manner, I gave up and let myself fall victim to my impending doom.

"Gavin... Gav, it's okay. We're here. You're okay. You're okay," I heard Michael's sweet voice repeat to me over and over again. When I recognized his touch, I relaxed. Only slightly though.

"Gav, what's going on? What happened?" Geoff asked.

"D-dad?" I asked looking around the room, trying to find him.

Everyone shared confused looks, shuffling closer to me until I felt as though I were suffocating. I shrunk back into Michael more, causing him to tighten his grip on me.

"Give him some space. He needs time to come down from the panic," Michael said.

Everyone backed up a couple paces, however they remained close enough so that they could help me if I needed it. I felt Michael begin breathing deeply and I copied the breathing, feeling my heartbeat slow down significantly.

"You okay, Gav?" Ray asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and turned to all the guys. Their confused and sympathetic looks caused me to begin to crying once more.

"I-I'm sorry..." I whispered through my crying. Geoff came forward and wrapped his arms around me, shushing me like I was a little kid.

"Gav, it's alright. We just want to make sure you're okay. What happened?" Geoff asked me, pulling away from the hug and allowing me to fall back into Michael's embrace.

"It was... a panic attack. First one I've had in a while," I confessed.

Before I knew it, I was spilling out my story of why I moved here. Everyone listened intently, giving me shocked expressions as I described the things my father did to me.

Telling my friends what happened to me surprisingly wasn't as bad as I had always thought it would be. They were understanding and didn't dare interrupt with a crude joke. They took me seriously, believing every word I said.

I felt Michael stiffen as I recounted my story. I felt his arms tighten around me as I went on about how my father raped me. It took me a while to really realize the position I was in with Michael, but my fear that still had not completely disappeared wouldn't allow me to enjoy the feeling.

By the end of the story everyone nodded and stood up, hugging me individually. They all questioned why I hadn't told them sooner to which I responded with a simple 'I was scared'. They all accepted that answer.

"Do you want to go home Gav?" Geoff asked.

I nodded slowly, ignoring the disappointed looks from the others. Geoff grabbed his car keys and led Michael and I up the stairs.

Michael had still not allowed me to leave his embrace, not that I was particularly complaining. Nobody commented on it, simply thinking Michael was just trying to help me. But they didn't know about the kiss.

Once Geoff had dropped me off at home, I stumbled up the steps (even more so than usual due to the bloody ankle brace), Michael still beside me. I noticed all the lights were off inside, to which I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't want my mother to worry about me over a simple panic attack.

I trudged up the stairs and into my room, attempting to be as silent as possible. Michael followed me in, shutting my door quietly and pulling the blankets back on my bed. I curled up underneath them, not even bothering to take my ankle brace off, before pulling the blankets up so they nearly covered my head.

I heard my door open again and I knew Michael was departing. I swiftly reached out a hand and pulled him back. He gave me a surprised look, closing the door once more.

"P-please stay," I whispered, almost pathetically.

Michael immediately nodded and I moved over in bed, making room for him. He crawled into bed with me, cautiously wrapping an arm around my waist. I melted into his touch and closed my eyes, willing sleep to come over me.
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Ayyyy extra long chapter. I really like this chapter too. A lot happened and we got a little minor Mavin fluff.
So let me know what you all think. And not just of this chapter, of the story as a whole as well.
Thanks again for reading and have a lovely day!