And don't think that they will live happily ever after....yet! *evil laugh*Written by: StormyBear
Chapter 21
As expected Maria laid into Michael and Zan, but not before pulling them Michael into her arms and nearly smothering him to death with her embrace. Lunch was a long and drawn out affair where both Kyle and Maria sat off to the side of the table and lectured the two of them unmercifully about their behavior. At first the two just sat there and allowed it to happen, but eventually Zan had had enough and prepared to say something about it. However, Michael was quicker as he stood up in anger, banging his fists upon the table so loudly that it shook the half eaten lunch plates. Zan had never seen this side of Michael and for some reason it frightened him, and yet he continued to keep quiet. Michael then informed his two friends that despite the fact that he loved them dearly and appreciated everything that they had done for him, he was a grown man and was capable of making his own decisions. Zan was quite proud of his lover as he continued to stand up for himself, but then he took his ranting a step further, leaving all three of them with their mouths hanging open.
“I’m moving in with Zan” He spoke quite clearly, a smile on his face as he sat back down onto his chair.
“WHAT?” A gaggle of voices cried out, Zan included as they each tried to figure out where those words had come from.
“You’ve both been great letting me live here” Michael began. “But…I think that it’s time that I move on with my life”
“Michael…your crazy. It’s too soon” Maria cried out attempting to jump out of her chair but her protruding belly prohibiting such quick action. “You’ve only known Zan for a few months. You seem to think that everything with Max is over…but you know that it’s far from it. Michael…just think about what you are doing” She begged, fearing for her friend and his sanity in the worst way.
“Did you put him up to this?” Kyle asked, finally speaking up after all he had heard.
“Me…what…no” Zan stammered. “This is the first that I’ve heard of it” He went on, shifting his eyes away from the intent look that Michael was giving him. “Michael…maybe they are right. Maybe it is to soon”
“You don’t want me to live with you” Michael cried out in full upset, pushing away from the table because he needed to get away from all of them at that very moment. “You call think that I am this weak person. You think that I will fall apart in a second and maybe that’s the way that I used to be. But Maria…you remember how I used to be. I used to be strong and vital…until Max took that away from me” He said more quietly, a small shiver running down his back as memories of the past flashed through his mind. “I feel that man coming back. Everyday I feel more of my old self coming back and it makes me happy. It’s because of you and Kyle and now…” He didn’t finish his words as tears of rejection began to gather behind his eye lids. “I thought you wanted to be with me…but…” Again his words weren’t finished as with one final look he bolted out the door. He knew that someone would follow him as he ducked into a nearby ally, watching as both Zan and Kyle ran down the street. “Assholes…” He chuckled sadly to himself as he changed direction and headed towards the one place that he had vowed to never step foot in ever.
“Sign here…” He heard the officer speak, pointing to a sign in sheet laying on the desk before him. “Are you carrying and concealed contraband?”
“No…no” Michael stuttered, his hands shaking so much as he tried to sign his name. His entire body shook as he was patted down and then escorted into a nearby room. The room was small and smelled moldy, with a table and a chair located in the middle. Closing his eyes he inhaled deeply, nearly choking on the heavy air that invaded his lungs. His heart was racing, his head aching as the veins in his temple began to throb in time with it. His palms were sweaty and painful as he clenched them into fists so tights that even his blunt nails were digging into his skin. He considered fleeing in fear as a bout of dizziness washed over him, but he knew that he could not. It was time to face his fears, time to face the demon of his pasts and right there was the only place that he could do it.
“Michael…” He heard his name called as he opened his eyes and found a pair of beautiful hazel eyes staring back at him from across the table. Fear took him in an instant as once again the memories of the past rushed upon him, rendering him completely immobile. He didn’t know why he was there, didn’t know what it was that he was trying to prove, but he did know one thing, he wanted to leave out of there in the worst possible way. “Baby…I’m so glad that you came to see me” He heard his former love speak softly as he reached out across the table to take his hand. With quick reflexes Michael jerked his hands from off of the table before Max even had a chance to touch him. He continued to watch those same eyes, seeing the cloudiness of hate brewing deep within them, but then in seconds it was gone. “I know that after everything that has happened, my touching you is the last thing that you would want from me” Max spoke in a soothing voice laced with what Michael assumed to be hurt, but this was Max and he knew better.
“Yo…you won’t ever touch me again” Michael finally found the nerve to speak up. “I just came here to confront you and tell you that after they put you away for good for what you did to me and your brother, that you won’t ever see me again”
“You belong to me” Max roared, jerking his frame across the table, but falling short as a guard came racing from behind him, trying to drag him out of the room. “You belong to me Michael and nothing is going to change that” He screamed louder, wrapping his legs around the chair he had been sitting on in order to hinder the guard from taking him. “You will die before I allow you to leave me and don’t think that I don’t know that you and Zan are hot for each other…because I know everything. Just remember these two things Michael…Zan and I are identical and there is no fucking way in hell that he could love a sniveling piece of shit like you. You’re mine and I will take the very breath from your body before I allow you to leave me”
Michael lost it in that very moment as he sat in the room alone. All his old fears came back and converged on him with such a vengence that he was unable to speak, or move at all. He was vaguely aware of his surroundings, only enough to hear two people run into the room. He knew without actually seeing who they were. Tears bled from his eyes as Zan rushed over to him, wrapping him within his arms, only to release him just as quickly at his hellish cry of pain. “No…” He turned away from the man that he was so confused over that he couldn’t think straight. Max’s words played over and over in his head as he fell into Kyle’s arms breaking down in them. “Take me home Kyle…please” He begged, avoiding the look of upset and sadness radiating from Zan’s eyes as Kyle lead him out of the jailhouse. “Send him away” He whispered in Kyle’s ear as he was assisted into the front seat of the police cruiser. “Tell him to leave me alone. I don’t want to see him anymore” He watched as a line of confusion shot across Kyle’s face, replaced with determination quickly afterwards.
Michael watched as Kyle led Zan away from the car, speaking to him in a calm manner. He watched the way that Zan’s face was covered by a look of pure anger, only to be replaced with sadness as he looked over at Michael sitting in the car. Numbness began to consume him as Zan turned away from the two of them, shoulders slunk down in defeat. “I don’t know what the fuck you were thinking coming down here and confronting Max like you did…but I do agree that cooling things with Zan for awhile is the best thing” He heard Kyle speak as he climbed into the car next to him. He vaguely heard the other words that Kyle spoke because the sound of breaking heart seemed to be drowning out most of them.
TBC...
Just so you know...more angst to come 