Three Little Birds

The Conversation Pt. 2

"Yeah. That's what he said." Mykel's voice was heavy and thick, remembering the words he had read so many times.

"Well, do you think he lied about that?"

He sniffled again. "He never lied to me about anything."

"Well then, my love, don't you think that he meant what he said? If he never lied to you, he wouldn't lie to you with his last words, would he?"

Mykel croaked out a whispered 'no'. 

"What do you feel for Mattie? Honestly," Liz asked gently, gripping his shoulder, turning him to look at her.

"I'm falling in love with him. He makes me happy. He makes me smile. He makes me smile like Kaiden used to make me smile."

"Then love him. Allow yourself to live. Allow yourself to love, to be loved. You deserve to be happy." She touched his cheek with her fingertips and he closed his eyes.

"What if he doesn't want me back?"

There were not many people with whom he could show such undiluted vulnerability with and not give it a second thought. She had always been the one he had confided his deepest secrets and darkest fears.

She smiled a fraction. "You might be surprised. He's just as scared as you are."

Mykel smiled briefly. "Yeah? How do you know?"

She laughed a light chuckle that made Mykel smile that much more. "Girlfriends talk, it's what we do." They laughed and Liz swiped her hands down her face, clearing away any remaining tears.

"Mykel, if you think you have a shot at being happy with Mattie, make yourself happy. It's time to let Kaiden go. Love him and love what you had together...but be happy and loved now."

Mykel nodded as he soaked in her words. "You really think he wouldn't think it a betrayal?"

She shook her head slightly. "No. No, I really don't. I think he would want you to be as happy as he always tried to make you."

"I love you, Liz. I am really sorry about everything. I shouldn't have kept all of that from you."

She pulled herself to him, wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him close to her. She hugged him for a long moment before pulling away.

"I love you, too, Mykel. I'm glad you told me. I don't like that you kept it from me all this time, but I understand it. Just...Kaiden was a great guy, Mykel. He should be remembered for that. One day I hope you can remember the good times without automatically remembering the bad."

He nodded and sighed. "Me, too, Lizzy. We're okay?"

She smiled at him, punching his shoulder playfully. "Of course we're okay, you big oaf."

Mykel stood from the bed, dropping a kiss to the top of his sister's head. "I'm exhausted. I'm gonna go try and get some sleep. I love you, Lizzy."

Slowly he took a deep breath and walked from the room. As he shut the door behind him, preparing to make the journey upstairs to knock on Mattie's door as he promised he would, he smiled.

As he ascended to the second floor of the house he wondered what might lie in store for his future. Would he and Mattie be able to put their pasts behind them and live and love and be happy with one another? 

He smiled more as he gave it thought. He hoped so. He knew he wasn't going to confess his undying love to him right away, but would allow the course to take itself, with perhaps a bit of guidance along the way.

He smiled nervously as he reached Mattie's slightly ajar door and knocked.

"Hi. Can I come in?"

Three weeks had passed since that dreaded Wednesday and things were beginning to revert back to the previous routine.

The week before I had moved my things into Liz's from my old, run down apartment. I did not miss it as much as I had originally thought. It was my first real place, but at Liz's I felt home.

It was new and it was wonderful. We had put most of my furniture in the garage, transforming it into an extra "chill spot" as Liz put it.

Mykel and I began spending more and more time together, though my inherent shyness kept much of anything from happening. Mykel, patient as ever, seemed not to notice, but I could feel myself, little by little begin to step out of the shell I had encased myself in.

It was Friday night and I was exhausted as the last of the customers filed out of the coffee shop for the night. 

The three of us closed in companionable silence, each working to complete our tasks. Mykel had helped cover the last shift of the night for Emma, who had been in a car accident and broken her leg three days previous.

As we finished, Mykel grabbed my hand and I felt a blush rising from the contact. He had not been pushy, nor done anything I felt I needed to stop, but he always managed to show me affection in small ways. Like grabbing my hand. He is always so gentle with me, as if he's holding a fragile butterfly whose wings will disintegrate if held too roughly.

He chuckled at my reaction, bringing his finger under my chin and gently lifting. Eye contact, though it isn't difficult with Liz and Mykel anymore, is still something I struggle with.

"Let me take you out tonight."

I smiled. "How are you not exhausted after the day we've had?"

He smiled, warm as the setting summer sun. "I am. But...well, you've been so..." He struggled with his words, finding it hard to talk about the week of Kaiden's death's anniversary.

"Well, so great with putting up with my a*s lately and...I wanna take you somewhere." The look in his eyes was pleading, like a puppy begging for a treat. 

I chuckled and relented. "Can we go home first so I can change?"

His smile alone was worth my saying yes. He nodded and bounced on his toes. "Yes, but we have to hurry."

It was a mild night, clear and cloudless. A small heat wave came through, delaying any snowfall for another day. I changed quickly, throwing on my favorite hoodie, before we were on the road again.

"Where are we going?" I asked after half an hour. The radio played softly in the background. An unremembered one hit wonder that quickly faded.

"Not too much longer. Just up a ways a bit." He glanced at me grinning before looking back at the road.

Another half hour passed before he pulled off on to a secluded road that led to a smaller road that led to an overview.

"Where are we?" I asked as he shifted into park and shut off the engine.

"Come on," he said getting out. He grabbed two blankets from the back seat, spreading one out. We sat and he drew me to him so I was leaning into him, and he wrapped the second blanket around us.

He was quite for several heartbeats, and I was content to feel his chest rise and fall as he breathed.

"This is...one of my favorite places. I used to come here a lot when I wanted to be alone after Kaiden died. I would just look at the stars. I was always at peace here and...well, I wanted to...share it with you."

I smiled warmly and squeezed his arms tighter around me. "It's beautiful here." I lay my head back against his shoulder as we sat wrapped in each other and looked at the sparkling diamonds across the velvet plain. It was peaceful and I understood why he came here to get away, and it meant more than he knew that he shared it with me.

"Mykel?" I said after a we sat quiet for several minutes.

"Hm?" I could feel him looking at me, his head turned slightly, his nose brushing lightly against my neck. His warm breath against my cool flesh made me shiver.

"Is this a date?" I asked softly, not attempting to look at him, my eyes staring straight up into the night. 

He squeezed me just slightly tighter, a confirmation without words. "Would you like that?"

I felt his pulse pick up, beating a bit quicker as he anticipated my answer with nervous fervor. I smiled.

"Yes. I've...I've never been on a date before." I could feel myself begin to blush at the admission. I missed so many rites of passages growing up, and I felt a stirring of sadness at the thought.

"Well," he said, his breath tickling my neck. I inhaled sharply at the sensations it caused. "That was kinda my idea. I just didn't want to scare you away with the label."

He rested his chin on my shoulder, his face half buried in my neck, my head leaned back against him.