38

I just drew out of my head to practice and with the loud music in my ears, I forgot about space and time around me. Totally in my element, I got a little nervous about painting something that would stick to Kiyan's body forever. It had to be perfect...

Eventually, my thoughts of him caught up with me again, so I took off the headphones, put the pencil aside, and Adam's snoring filled my ears again.

I got up quietly, lay on the floor next to my bed and stared at the ceiling.

"Adam!" I said loudly, turning my head to the side to look the blonde straight in the face.

He didn't move, which made me roll onto my side and shake his arm. The poor guy would probably have the back pain of his life because of my hard wooden floor.

"Adam, wake up!" I got louder, whereupon he opened his eyes with an effort and smacked his lips softly to himself.

"What... where," he began quietly and then looked at me with wide eyes. Before I could say anything, he rushed to get up and rammed his forehead full of can into my slatted frame.

"Ahhhhh," he grabbed his head and I immediately jumped up and had to hold back a laugh with all my might. It looked super funny, but I didn't want him to feel like I was making fun of him.

When I calmed down, I squatted in front of the bed and gave him my hand, then helped him out from under there.

"Thanks," he murmured, then sat up to brush the dust off his colorful tank top.

"Sleep well? Do you want a coffee?"

He looked at me gratefully and nodded with a grin on his face, which made me smile as well.

Together we ran into the kitchen and while I prepared his coffee, he leaned against the fridge next to me and yawned extensively a few times. Apparently he was still tired.

"What actually made you jump under my bed?" I then asked him amusedly and half turned to him. He really was a quiet guy and I didn't want to force a conversation on him, but I couldn't help but ask.

"I really have no idea," he laughed softly, shaking his head at himself. "But believe me, I would do it all over again. I haven't slept that well in a long time."

He grinned at me and since I didn't know him at all, I didn't know at the moment whether he was sarcastic or what he said was really serious.

I handed him the coffee thoughtfully and he immediately took a strong sip, then touched his lip and cursed softly.

"Blow should help," I said with a smile and he rolled his eyes, still grinning.

Several minutes of silence passed, only occasionally broken by his slurping, until he suddenly turned to me with a serious look.

"How's your father after all that shit?" he asked curiously and I gave him a confused look. He always struck me as so sluggish, confused, and mute that I was never sure if he was even picking up on anything outside of his mind. No one had ever asked me that, although everyone knew about the situation.

He noticed my insecurity and carefully put his hand on my shoulder to give me a sympathetic look. "My parents split up a year ago. It was horrible to be between the two of them," he said, and looking into his warm eyes I thought for a moment whether that's why he started taking drugs.

"It's different for me. I totally stand by my dad," I said truthfully, adding, "but you're right, it's a horrible situation and I'm really glad my dad goes better."

A slight smile broke out on his lips and he took his hand off my shoulder to lean thoughtfully against the fridge again and stare thoughtfully into nothing.

I kept glancing at him and casually considering the possibility of maybe asking him some questions about Chloe, I then let it go and moved on to another topic. One that, despite his absence, still bothered me more than I cared to admit.

"Tell me, Adam. How well do you know Thomas?"

He glanced at me and then, breathing heavily, put the cup down on the bright kitchen island in front of us. Before he said a word, he ran a hand through his blond hair and then leaned his arms on the island.

"You can't call it familiar, but let's put it that way, I've never heard anything positive about him. He's selfish, cold and unpredictable according to Kiyan's statements and if I were you, I'd stay away from him."

With the last words, he looked urgently over at me and a cold shiver ran down my spine when I was reminded again of the constriction on his part.

"That your mother lets him live here at all. The only important thing for him is that he doesn't live in the trailer park anymore," he added and I immediately stared at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean? My mother said he helped us out financially," I asked, standing close to him.

Adam shook his head and turned slightly to look at me, just as confused as I was at him.

"He and helped financially? He drank all the money Kiyan's parents left him to take care of their son. He has no money. Except..."

He turned his gaze to the window and I was already clenching my teeth impatiently. I would have liked to shake him so that he would finally continue talking, but before I could urge him to do so, the doorbell rang and, aware that Kiyan had a key, I looked at Adam in irritation.

"Can I use your shower?" Adam asked quickly when I was already on my way to the door and I half turned to give him permission with a nod.

He disappeared into the bathroom and I pulled open the white front door to see Micah standing in the sun. His eyes were full of regret and he nervously put his hands in the pockets of his light-colored jeans, while the Nike logo was visible on his gray t-shirt.

"Hey," he whispered, avoiding my gaze immediately. I didn't really know where to look either. I was sort of in a zait pod because since my mum left yesterday with the idiot and only Zayn, Adam and Kiyan to keep me company, I forgot everything that was going on out there and kind of forgot about my best friend.

"Hi," I replied, looking at his black sneakers, and opened the door a little further. "Come in."

He looked at me gratefully, took his hands out of his pockets and walked past me into the house to sit on one of the chairs at the glass table.

I closed the door, took a calming breath, and then turned to sit across from him.

He looked tired, but also worried and nervous at the same time, and then quickly spoke up.

"I'm so, so sorry, Mia. I shouldn't have let Juline do that to you, much less should I have followed her afterwards. It's just that Zayn really surprised me and-"

"There was nothing with Zayn," I immediately cut him off, rolling my eyes. "You know me so well Micah, do you seriously think I'd make out with him drunk in the woods? We were looking for Kiyan and had an unfortunate fall."

He looked me in the eyes the whole time and I saw some relief in his at the end of my words.

"Of course I know you, but I was drunk and it was just too much for me," he explained, leaning back in his chair to look around the open-plan living room.

Now that I saw him again in front of me, I realized how much I had missed him, even if it was only a few days ago. He was here... and he had apologized... he really was my best friend, only I didn't deserve him. I'd lied to him, kept getting his hopes up, and then just alienated him. I was just sorry and filled with guilt I leaned forward and grabbed one of his hands that were on the table. He immediately looked at me questioningly and leaned forward again.

"Micah, I haven't been fair to you. Ever since our first kiss, I've only had the selfish thought of not wanting to lose you as a friend, and then when I developed feelings for Kiyan, I figured that hiding it from you was the only way would be not to lose you as a friend."

My words were honest and I had no problem at all in finally telling him honestly about my fears and feelings. I didn't want anything to stand between us anymore and when he smiled then all the tension fell off my shoulders with relief.

"Mia, I love you very much, but I would never end our friendship just because you don't feel the same way for me. I'm happy when you are," he said, gently stroking the back of my hand with his thumb.

"Didn't know you could be wise," I joked, embarrassed, and he gave a short but hearty laugh.

"But only because I haven't had anything to drink since the party," he winked and briefly locked his eyes in mine.

I was sure our friendship would make it, because we've known each other far too long and far too well to throw it all away because of feelings. At least, I hoped so from the bottom of my heart, and I made a promise to myself in that moment to always be honest with him, no matter how much fear I might have about losing our friendship.

I then carefully pulled my hand from his and got up to walk behind the kitchen island. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Water," he said succinctly and then stretched extensively to get up as well. "Or maybe a coffee, if it doesn't cause any trouble."

"I'm sure it won't," I said with a grin and then prepared his coffee to make myself one again.

I handed him the cup, looked into his eyes briefly and then heard the bathroom door before Adam walked into the kitchen with only a towel around his waist.

"Should I want to know what's going on here?" Micah looked over at me, but I just shook my head because at the same moment the front door opened and Kiyan came back with a case of beer, followed by Zayn.

"They leave them alone for a few hours," Zayn laughed, giving Kiyan a friendly smack on the shoulder, who fixed me with his gaze, the effect of which once again made me pretty nervous.

"Hey Micah", they greeted my best friend and immediately the coffee was exchanged for beer and they talked so confused that one could hardly understand a word.

"Hi," Kiyan then stepped next to me and put his arm around my shoulders, giving me a sense of belonging. Everything just felt right and good.

"Hey," I replied, grinning contentedly at him. It was just nice that Micah was here and everyone hit it off for a little while. I would have loved to capture this moment because what I didn't know was that everything would soon only go downhill and such evenings would be forgotten.