~*Flashback*~

“Mike, give them back!” I whine as I jump up to try and grab the box of Pop Tarts that are currently being dangled a good few inches above my head by my tall and handsome, dark-haired lover.

“Nuh uh!” Mike pouts as he watches me jump up and down trying, and failing, to recover the box of delicious goodness from his grasp.

“Mike!” I huff as I stop my futile attempts of jumping up and down and fold my arms tightly across my chest, my body turning away from him.

“Aww, come on Tony Turtle…please, don‘t go into one of your moods…You want them?” He asks me as he holds out the box of delicious goodness, waiting patiently for me to turn back towards him.

I wait for a short moment before turning back round, glaring at him as my eyes scan his face for any indication that this is a joke before slowly unfolding my crossed arms and reaching out hesitantly for the box of Pop Tarts. Just as my fingertips touch the very edge of the box, Mike moves it out of my reach once again, taunting me by dangling it above my head.

“Michael…Stop it!” I groan as I look up at him with my best puppy-dog expression.

Mike goes quiet as he takes a step towards me, his perfect chocolate-brown eyes connecting with my own as they sparkle, his free arm wrapping around my waist while his other puts the box of Pop Tarts in the pocket of the warm hoodie that he had given me after our first night together.

“I’m sorry, baby…” Mike’s soft melodic voice whispers into my ear as he wraps both of his arms around my waist, pulling me closer towards him, his lips kissing me softly on the back of my neck.

I feel myself shiver lightly with pleasure at his touch, whatever doubts that I might have had about our relationship washes out of my mind. Letting out a soft sigh of contentment, I turn round in his embrace and place my arms around his neck and kiss him passionately.

“Tell me what you‘re thinking.” Mike whispers seductively as he rests his forehead against my own as he places kiss after kiss against my lips, his arms tugging me lightly closer towards his warm body, my breathing speeding up in anticipation; eager for more.

I chuckle softly as I nuzzle my nose against the soft skin of his own neck, his sweet scent filling my nostrils as I let out another sigh of contentment.

“I’m thinking…that you are the most attractive guy in the world and I can’t believe that I’ve been lucky enough to have you in my life.” I smile as he kisses my neck again before trailing his lips slowly up to meet my own, before he bites down gently on my lower lip causing a small moan to escape through my lips as I feel Mike smirk into the kiss.

Mike laughs his soft laugh before he pulls me down unexpectedly onto the golden San Diego sand next to him, his lips continuing to connect with my own as he smiles that irresistible smile that makes my heart melt. Seriously, how did I ever get so lucky as to be able to call him my own?

“Hmm…I think that should be the other way round, don‘t you? I think that you‘re the most attractive guy in the world. Seriously, how did I manage to pull you?” Mike jokes lovingly as he lies on his back, his head turning to look at me with those mesmerizing brown eyes.

“If you‘re asking my how you, one of the most talented musicians in the world, managed to pull a guy like me then I really do think that you honestly haven‘t looked at yourself in the mirror.” I laugh lightly as I lean down to kiss him again, placing a hand on his chest, feeling it rise lightly up and down with every breath that he took.

“You’re too modest about yourself, Tony…seriously, you should give yourself more credit as you are absolutely handsome.” Mike whispers as he wraps both of his arms around me, pulling me down to lie beside him, his head resting on top of my own as the sun set casts a beautiful ambient light over the clear waters, the golden sands and our entwined bodies.

Never before in my life have I ever been so content than what I am feeling right now. Just lying on this quiet beach besides my one true love is so peaceful and quiet…it’s like we’re the only two people left in the world and I couldn’t ask for a more perfect moment. I never want this perfect evening to end.

~*End Flashback*~

“You can’t be here.”

“But, I need to see him. I need to explain-”

“I think that you have done more than enough ‘explaining‘, don‘t you?”

“He told you?”

“He didn‘t have to tell me, I saw for myself, but yeah he did…right before he broke down into tears.”

The voices go quiet as an awkward silence falls between the owners of them behind the closed door that leads into the hallway. The voices are slightly hazy in my mind as I slowly open my eyes, letting them adjust to the darkness that was surrounding me but I can still recognise who they belong to - Jaime and Mike - I’d always recognise those voices, I would never let myself forget them, ever.

“Why did you do it?” Jaime’s cold voice breaks through the silence and I feel myself sitting slowly up, trying my best not to make a sound.

“Why did I do what?” Mike asks quietly, his small voice sounding like a whisper.

“You know too right what I’m talking about, Michael! Why did you fucking hit him?!” Jaime spits, the venom in his voice, causing me to fall down to the floor.

The anger in Jaime’s words as well as the amount of hate that he emphasises on each individual word scares me so much. Taking in a deep, steadying breath, I slowly start to crawl over to the slightly ajar door, pressing my back up against the wall beside it; my ears listening out intently to the heated conversation between the two talented musicians that I know…who both also happen to be the closest friends that I have ever had.

“I…Jaime, I think…I don’t know what’s happening to me anymore.”

The silence that follows Mike’s quiet words is enough to make me start crying again, just the amount of hurt and defeat in his voice breaks my heart piece by piece. Before I can take in a breath, I hear the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door before it opens a few seconds later to reveal a shadowed figure in the form of Jaime, coming towards me and kneeling down beside me.

“Shh Tone…it‘s okay, don‘t cry.” Jaime lulls calmly as his arms wrap around me, rocking me gently backwards and forwards in an attempt to soothe my cries.

“Tony, please…I‘ve just come to explain to you that-” Mike starts desperately but he soon takes a step back when Jaime shoots him a deadly glare, signally for him to shut up.

“I think that you should leave now, Mike.” Jaime says coldly as he tightens his arms around my shaking body, my head resting against his shoulder, soaking his shirt with more of my tears.

“Please, just let me explain.” Mike pleads, his gaze falling onto me as he speaks up. “Please. Just let me explain, please?”

“I want you to leave, Mike…” I state quietly, my voice shaking as I peer up at him through the gap between Jaime’s neck and shoulder.

“Tony…”

“You heard him, Michael. Leave. Now.” Jaime interjects.

Mike looks at me with his piercing brown eyes and I can’t help but hesitantly pull out of the gaze, all of the hurt that he’s put me through coming back to my mind, all of the words that he had said that didn’t mean anything at all, all of the lies. Oh, the lies…I don’t want to believe any of them and a small part of me really wants to pull away from Jaime’s embrace and run out of the house after Mike’s retreating form.

Not today though.

Mike’s footsteps get more distant with every step that he takes, while the sound of Jaime’s light breathing gets heavier with ever second that goes by. For a moment, as I look up at Jaime; I see everything that I was ever trying to find in Mike. If only I had chosen him when he asked me to go out with him before Mike did, everything would have turned out to be so different.