Just Good Friends?

chapter 2 - 1 Year Later

(A year later.)

Mike

"I'm not going!" I can't believe he's doing this, it is f*****g ridiculous!

"You're coming with me, and that's final Mike. I've given you plenty of warnings. You've got a few weeks left whilst you do your exams, then you'll be on your way.

"f**k you! Like you've ever f*****g cared what I do anyway" he is such an asshole. He comes in here after years of not giving a s**t, and expects me to be fine with this.

"There's no other option here Mike" he's not going to give in, so I try something else.

"OK. If I go, I'm coming back for final year" he stares at me for what feels like ages, then said,

"You don't have any contact with Bex and Joe for the time you're away, and we may have a deal, or I can't promise I won't do something that you will hate" I can't believe he's doing this to me. He'll screw something up for Bex if I go against him, I know he will.

"I'm having phone contact, you're not stopping that. I'll be gone before the anniversary of their mums death, Bex is going to be in a bad place, you can't stop me from talking to her. I'll agree not to see her, but I'm not agreeing to no phone contact" I glare at him with narrowed eyes, and I see him back down

"Fine, phone contact only. I mean it Mike, or that's it, you'll be cut out" he walks away. That f*****g bastard!

....

"So when do you leave" Bex is curled up on my lap, looking totally defeated.

"After exams finish. I made a deal, he let's me come home for final year, and we get phone contact but no seeing each other. It was the only way Bex, or I don't know what he would of done" I pull her closer and kiss her on top of her head.

"This is so s**t Mike, but I get it. He's worried something will happen... it did happen! We could have been killed, or seriously hurt anyway"

"But we weren't. I've never done anything I didn't want to Bex"

We were over the river at a party last week, when Trayton guys turned up. One of them started coming on to Bex but she turned him down. He didn't take it well and grabbed her wrist pulling her towards him. Bex being Bex, punched him and knocked him out. His mates were embarrassed for him and started flying punches at the rest of us. It got serious when one of them pulled out a knife. Bex didn't care and went for him, she managed to get the knife and threw it on the roof, then all hell broke loose. Police arrived and me, Bex and Joe were thrown in the police cars and taken to the station. We managed to get the other guys to go before they were caught too. They didn't want to leave us take the rap, but if it wasn't for us, they wouldn't have even been involved. We got away with it because of Bexs' Dad, no idea what he did, but it worked. Now we were in this situation and it was s**t.

"I need to tell Joe" I had to tell Bex first. She's my main concern. We've been friends for almost 14 years, and I've been in love with her for 3 of them.

....

"So you'll be back soon right"? We played it down with Joe, as Bex didn't want him kicking off before I left.

"Soon as I can buddy. And I'll be ringing all the time" I was standing against the counter in their kitchen, with Bex leaning against the front of me, with my arms draped over her. I didn't want to leave. This is exactly where I wanted to stay for the rest of my life. Here with Bex, in my arms.

"Cool, OK. Well me and Bex had a good chat, and we're knocking this s**t on the head. We can't keep doing this, so it's good twins from now on, you don't need to worry" he bounces off with a wink "off to meet Nate. Later fuckers"

Bex

Mike's gone, my mums gone, I've only got Joe and my dad left. Life is total s**t. Joe doesn't get why Mike didn't come back for our mums anniversary, so I told him he just can't, no explanation. I really need him, he's been in constant phone contact. Ringing me 5 or more times a day, but I need him here.

There is one good thing actually... me and Oscar have been out a few times. He asked me out a few days after mum's anniversary, so i thought f**k it, why not.

....

"So, you and Oscar?" Joe nudges me.

"Yeah, it's new, so don't make too much of it ok"

"And I always thought it would end up being Mike" he looks over at me.

"Nah, Mike is my best friend, always. Oscar is... Oscar" I shrug "We'll see where it takes us" I smile.

"So, Mike's OK with it? Joe is trying not to sound too pushy, I can tell.

"Why wouldn't he be? He likes Oscar"

"Yeah, but you two are like super close and all that. I just thought maybe, it could be more, given time?" I just stare at him blankly at first.

"Mike?? We've been best mates since we were 3 dude. It's Mike!?"

"I know, but... nevermind. He's probably f*****g every girl in his new school at the moment anyway" Joe looks at me quickly and shuts up.

"Yeah, probably. That's Mike all over" hhmmm "I'm going, meeting Oscar and going to watch a film. See you later for burgers yeah" I grab my keys and start heading out.

"What film?" Joe shouts.

"Some shity comedy that Oscar booked" I turn back.

"Huh, Mike wouldn't of put you through that torture. Horror till we die eh!" What is it with him and Mike?

Mike was a bit quiet when I told him about about Oscar, but I'm not telling Joe that. I think Mike's feeling a bit out of the loop, he always said he'd need to check out the guys before I dated them, but he's not here. I like Oscar.

....

Joe

"You're OK with this?" I ask Nate as Bex closes the door behind her. He's had a thing for Bex for a few years, but he never acted on it because of me.

"I'm fine, she deserves a bit of happiness for a change, and if Oscar can give that to her, then that's great" he seems OK, but Nate is a private person. He's laid back, and keeps me grounded. I just wish it hadn't been my sister to turn his head.

"Right. We'll head out soon, message the others and tell them to meet us for burgers" I stand up, clearing out mess from the table, and make sure everything is tidy before we leave. Everyone says I'm too messy, so I'm really trying to sort my s**t out at the moment... it won't last though.

....

Bex

"I like you Bex, a lot. I'd even go as far as saying I'm falling in love with you. I know we've only just started dating, but it feels right" Oscar holds me in his arms after s*x. Yes it's very soon, but it just happened, and now keeps happening.

"I know Oscar. I can't say it back though, I hope you get that"

"I do. I just feel lucky that you're with me" he climbs out of bed and starts getting dressed "we need to get going, film starts soon"

....

Oscar

We arrive at the burger place a few hours later. The film was OK, but nothing great. Bex loves a good horror, but this was a comedy, not her thing really. Just as we are heading through the doors, her phone rings. She pulls it out and looks at the caller Id, her face lights up, must be Mike. I sigh, but thankfully she doesn't hear me. I motion for her to take it, and then I head towards the others that are already here waiting for us.

"Hey, what's Bex doing?" Joe asks.

"Mike's on the phone, she'll be over in a minute" I sit down and a girl comes over to take my order. Joe looks at me for a second, then turns his attention to the girl and gives her Bex' order.

I look over at Bex, and she's talking and laughing about something. She's always so happy talking to Mike, I get it, he's been her best mate since we were 3, she misses him. More than she realises it herself, but I see it.

.....................

Bex

'I can't wait for you to come home ' I say. I miss him so much.

'It will be a while yet Bex, but I'll be back, no fear there. So how was the film?'

'Awful! Comedy s**t, Oscar thinks he can convert me. Never going to happen' I laugh.

'Ha! Fool! Nothing like being scared shitless' he loves a horror just as much as me. 'Look, I'll leave you to go eat, make sure you do ok. I'll speak to you tomorrow babygirl. Love you'

'Love you' I hang up, and feel instantly alone. Mike has called me babygirl, ever since Mia said something to him a year or 2 ago. He wouldn't tell me what she said to him, but he now calls me babygirl, and I like it. I put a smile on my face and head over to the guys.

....

Mike

---MIKE--- G'night babygirl. I'll be dreaming of you. Love you X

---BEX--- G'night handsome. Love you more xx

---MIKE--- XXX

---BEX---XXXX

I love this girl more that I ever thought possible. I need to get back to her. But she has Oscar now, and he's a nice guy, she needs nice. I can't ruin that. f**k my dad for making me leave her.