There's No Such Thing As Too Young

I woke up with a unsettling feeling in my tummy.

As my eyes adjusted to the light, I realised that I wasn't in my room or in Mike's.

He was sleeping soundly next to me though.

I had no idea what time it was, but the sun was up and the birds were chirping.

I took a look around the room.

The walls were white with posters of bands such as Anthrax, Thrice and Thursday.

The wardrobe at the end of the room was half open, displaying an array of black tops, jeans and plaid shirts.

I was in Mike's childhood room.

It all came back to me as I remembered fainting yesterday, and Vivian had told us to stay here.

It was a close call and I almost thought they would find out about the pills.

The sickness I was feeling was overwhelming and I leaned over the side of the bed with my head between my knees.

I felt the bed move behind me and Mike's hand rubbing my back lazily.

"Are you alright?" He asked sleepily, his voice cracking from being asleep just previously.

"I feel sick." I breathed.

"Come on, I'll take you to the bathroom." He climbed off the bed and took my hand, pulling me up slowly as to not make the nausea worse.

I looked down as we walked, noticing I was still in my clothes from yesterday.

We reached the Fuentes bathroom, and Mike pushed the door open, guiding me inside.

I dropped to my knees infront of the toilet bowl, and lifted the lid.

Mike crouched behind me and rubbed my back in circles, holding my hair back.

I was used to throwing up after taking these pills, especially because I always took them on an empty stomach.

After gagging for awhile, I finally threw up.

It was only stomach acid though, as there was no food in my stomach.

Was there anything more embarrassing than throwing up at your boyfriend's parent's house after meeting them for the first time?

Mike blew on the back of my neck to cool me down, I'd gotten rather warm.

I wiped my mouth with toilet paper, and put the lid down on the toilet, flushing it.

Mike let my hair go and reached under the sink, handing me a toothbrush that was brand new.

He also used his, the One he kept here.

We brushed our teeth together and after, I wiped under my eyes to remove the smudged make up.

Mike then again took my hand, leading me downstairs to the kitchen.

I could smell breakfast cooking, so I assumed Mrs Fuentes was up.

My beliefs were confirmed when I saw her at the stove, frying some bacon.

She turned around when she heard us, a big smile gracing her mature face.

"Morning, kids!"

"Morning, Mom." Mike greeted, pulling a seat out at the table for me.

I thanked him quietly and slid into it.

"How are you feeling today, Millie?" Vivian asked, looking at me sympathetically.

"Much better, thank you." I said softly, watching Mike switch the kettle on to make some tea and coffee.

"Would you like some breakfast?" She asked us both.

My stomach growled in hunger but I ignored it.

"I'm fine, thank you." I lied, seeing Mike glance over to me.

"I think you should atleast have some plain biscuits to line your stomach, just incase you're sick again." Mike told me.

"You were sick?" Viv asked, her eyes wide.

I coughed and awkwardly nodded, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Yeah, only a little bit though." Mike answered for me, and I noticed how they both shared a quick look.

It was like they were hiding something from me.

Hmm.

Maybe I was just paranoid.

Mike handed me a mug of steaming, black tea with a saucer that had Two biscuits on it.

I inwardly groaned.

"Thank you." I spoke, he smiled and kissed my forehead.

Vivian continued to cook breakfast and I tied my hair back into a ponytail, wanting it out of my face.

Mike took a seat at the table with me, placing an arm around me as he sipped on his coffee.

"Morning." Victor greeted, walking into the kitchen wearing his painting uniform.

He smiled at me, patting my head as he walked by, kissing his wife on the cheek before making himself some coffee and joining us at the table.

Viv placed some plates infront of Mike and Victor, sitting herself down with a cup of tea like me.

The men ate while Vivian and I made small talk.

"So, I never asked you last night, Millie. What do you do for a living?" She wondered, smiling warmly as usual.

Crap, how do I answer that?

How about 'I'm still in high school and I don't currently have any plans on what I want to do when I leave school'?

No, I better not answer with that.

"I work at CVS, the one in town."

"Aye, I'll be coming in there to get a discount now." She joked, winking.

I laughed and sipped on my tea, placing my hand on Mike's knee under the table.

"What are you Two doing today then?" Victor asked, taking a bite of his eggs.

"I'll be making sure this One is alright, I don't want her ill on christmas." Mike said, nodding his head towards me.

"Hmm, yeah. You might have just had a Twenty Four hour bug, Millie." Mike's Father guessed.

I nodded fakely, knowing that I didn't have a bug, I'd just overdosed.

We all finished breakfast and I helped Vivian wash up as Mike spent some time with his Dad.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen Mike so happy." She voiced, stacking the plates I'd washed and putting them in the right cupboard.

I just looked at her in question, and she laughed quietly before continuing.

"He was a lost soul, Millie. He was so unhappy after Frenchi, and I've never seen someone consume so much alcohol. He was reckless and missing a part of him, I'd never seen him like that before. I was hurting just watching him, my youngest Son basically drowning in depression." She sniffled, her eyes tearing up as she thought about the past.

I wiped my hands off and wrapped an arm around Mrs Fuentes, rubbing her shoulder.

She wrapped her arm around my waist in return.

"You've saved him, Millie. I can't thank you enough for that, I honestly don't think he'd be here now if it wasn't for you. I love seeing the way you both interact, the way he's always by your side or how he always makes sure he has some sort of contact with you."

I thought about what she said.

In a way, she was right.

Mike and I had saved eachother.

"I love him very much." I whispered.

"I know you do, dear. I can see that he loves you too, he looks at you with such adoration, he'd take a bullet for you."

"Thank you for accepting me." I responded, she patted my back gently before returning back to putting away some cups.

"You're part of the family now, sweetheart. That boy is going to marry you, I just know it." She stated, causing me to grin discretely.

We were inturrupted by Mike coming into the kitchen again, with Victor following him.

"What are you Two talking about?" Mike asked, standing behind me with his hands on my waist.

"I was just telling Millie about the salon I go to, I was saying how we should have a girls afternoon and get our nails done." She lied, sending a sneaky wink my way.

I giggled.

"Oh, cool. Anyway, are you ready to go, babe? I want to get home, I've got some last minute wrapping up to do and I want you to go to bed." He informed me, squeezing my sides gently.

"I guess so." I shrugged, taking my bag from the table and hooking the strap over my shoulder.

"Aw, I don't want you to leave! It's been like having a new Daughter in the house!" Vivian gushed, enveloping me in her arms tightly.

"That'd be incest, Mom." Mike told her, rolling his eyes.

She gasped and hit his arm, causing Mike to snort and guffaw.

"We hope to see you soon, the both of you." Victor voiced, patting Mike on the back and hugging me.

God, I could hug these people all day.

They reminded me so much of my parents.

"Yeah, we'll stop by again a few days after christmas. We'll have to have a complete family get together, so Millie can meet everyone." Mike planned, and I nodded at his side.

"Yeah, that sounds great!" Vivian exclaimed, clapping her hands.

I loved how fun of energy she was, even at her age.

She was so eccentric, it's great.

"We'd better get going, to avoid any morning traffic." Mike said, causing Mrs Fuentes to pout again.

We left the house and got into Mike's car, waving as he backed out of the driveway.

Mike grasped my hand in his as he drove.

I leaned forward to switch on the radio and heating.

Mike lifted my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

"I love you more than you'll ever know and I promise to love you for as long as I live." Mike promised, glancing at me quickly before focusing on the road again.

"I love you too." I replied, brushing my fingers against his pink lips.

He beamed against my hand, no doubt at my tenderness.

He could see that I meant every word I said to him.

I was determined to help myself get over my bad habits, not for me, but for Mike.

I couldn't lose him to my stupidity and I couldn't see him hurt because of me.

He's my life now.

Notes

Do you think Millie will attempt to get better?