California

“Skylar…Skylar…” Mikey’s singsong voice filled my ears. I opened my eyes to see him smiling down at me from my place on the couch.

“What?” I whined, having just fallen asleep. After last night’s restless tossing and turning, sleep was calling my name.

“The guys wanted to do a bonfire tonight, if you’re interested.” I sat up on the couch and glanced at the clock, seeing that I’d only been asleep for about half an hour.

I yawned and rubbed my eyes, nodding. “That sounds great.”

“You should shower, you look exhausted.”

“Is that your nice way of saying I look like shit?” I teased, using his hands to stand up.

He shook his head. “You look stunning, as usual. I’m just saying.” I kissed his cheek and started up the stairs, only now noticing how greasy and stringy my hair felt.

“Care to join me?” He grinned and followed me up. I turned on the taps and let the water get to a more ideal temperature as I started stripping. I tried unhooking my bra, only to have it snap harshly against my back. I yelped in pain and heard Mikey snicker.

“Hold on,” he said. I felt his fingers along my back as he unclasped the blue lace and I slid it off.

“Thanks,” I smiled at him. I grabbed the metal bar on the wall and climbed in slowly. The water was much warmer now and felt relaxing on my muscles. He stepped in after me, gliding the glass shut behind him. “Ah, this feels so good.” I said and cupped my hands under the nozzle, splashing water on my face.

He pressed a kiss to my cheek as I stepped aside, allowing him under the steady flow. He placed his arms on the tile and leaned forward, the water splashing on his back and creating a mist of rainbows. I grabbed the shampoo and poured some onto my hands, turning my head upside down and massaging it into my hair. Once it was good and soapy, I placed my hands in Mikey’s hair. He smiled and threw his head back a little so I could better wash it. “I love the feeling of your hair,” I commented as I ran my fingers every which way.

He smirked. “I know. I’m pretty sure you’ve ripped out half of it.” I rolled my eyes and stepped under the water, letting the water wash out the shampoo.

“Stop being so smug.” He chuckled and ran his hands through my hair and letting the water wash his as well. I felt cold liquid on my head and squealed as Mikey started lathering in the conditioner.

“Stop being such a baby,” he laughed.

“It’s cold,” I whined. He shook his head and continued with his own hair while I grabbed the soap. I poured some onto his pouf and started working on his body. I washed over his beautiful tattoos gently and then he turned around so I could get his back. Once his entire body was soaked he took the pouf from me and started on my body. I stood there with a smirk on my face as he slowly worked up from my legs, his pupils wide with desire. He looked up and rolled his eyes, shoving me gently under the shower head.

“Now who is smug?” I smiled and let the water droplets shimmer over my body.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“But you were thinking it,” he smiled and switched the water off.

“Oh, so you can read minds then?” I asked as he handed me a towel when I stepped onto the fluffy blue rug. He shrugged and turned his head upside down, running the fabric all around his head.

“You’re very easy for me to read.”

“What am I thinking right now, then?” I challenged and wrapped the cotton around my body. He followed suit and we picked up our dirty clothes, throwing them in the hamper as we travelled to the bedroom.

“About how alluring my voice is,” he stated matter-of-factly as he tossed me one of his hoodies. I smiled and slipped it on along with some jeans and my Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles socks. I sat on the bed and watched as he pulled on a sweatshirt and a pair of blue jeans.

“You’re right on the money.” He turned around and smirked, leaning down to peck my lips. “I love you,” I smiled.

“I love you, too, love.”

“It drives me crazy when you call me that.”

“I know that, too,” he smirked and kissed me again before standing up and pulling me up with him. We combed our hair side-by-side in the bathroom, him making funny faces at me in the mirror the entire time. He went downstairs while I braided mine neatly to the side. I swished some mouthwash around in my mouth and then followed him down. He was sitting on the stairs lacing up his shoes. I silently snuck up behind him and then jumped out, grabbing his shoulders.
He screeched and jumped off the stairs, turning to me with bewilderment in his eyes. I burst into a fit of laughter, using the wall to support me while tears pricked my eyes. He held his chest with his hand, his eyes still wide. I giggled and held my gut, convinced I was getting abs now.

“Why in the world would you do that?” he questioned.

I struggled to get my laughing under control, a few chuckles escaping my lips. “It was funny.”

“You nearly gave me a heart attack,” he protested as I grabbed my shoes and started lacing them up as well. The smile stayed etched on my face as he held the door open for me and we made our way to the car. I rested my head on his shoulder as we headed towards Joe and James’ apartment. He rested his hand on my knee the sun set around us. I thought back to when I scared him and started laughing again, covering my mouth with my hand as my body shook. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. “You’re impossible.”

A few minutes later we pulled into an apartment division that was lined with identical white brick buildings. My cheeks hurt from grinning so much, but it still did not falter as he pulled into a parking space outside of an apartment that had gold numbers on it identifying it as 5B. We climbed out and he walked in, not bothering to knock. The smell that greeted me was a mix of alcohol and sweat, which didn’t surprise me. The living room was small with green carpet and some mismatching couches and a television.

“Hey!” Sam greeted as he descended the stairs to the right of the room.

“Hey,” Mikey and I greeted as James, Joe, and Dave walked in from the backyard through the sliding glass doors in the kitchen that were parallel the front door.

“I need to get you guys some candles or something. It smells horrible in here,” I scrunched up my nose.

“That’s because Dave is here,” Sam laughed and went into the kitchen. I followed behind him and saw that the counter had a tray of uncooked hot dogs on it and some skewers. Beer and various liquors sat atop the counter adjacent to it, and I grabbed two tallboys for Mikey and I. “James, can you get the stuff for s’mores?” Sam asked as he carried the tray out the back. I followed him and saw a large fire already flickering in a fire pit. There were camping chairs forming a circle around it and a small table to the left. Mikey was tossing some wood onto the fire and he smiled warmly at me, my heart skipping a beat at how incredibly gorgeous he looked in the flickering light. I returned the gesture and helped Sam unwrap the hotdogs. James emerged a few moments later with a tray full of the supplies for s’mores, Joe and Dave following behind him.

“I haven’t cooked hotdogs like this in years,” I reminisced.

“Really? It’s the bomb,” Joe said. I grabbed two skewers and placed a hotdog on each one, walking over to Mikey. I handed him his beer and skewer. He smiled his thanks and patted his lap, inviting me to sit. I complied and kissed his forehead before leaning forward to place the hotdog in the middle of the fire.

“Ah, fuck,” I snapped my head up to see Dave sucking on his finger.

“A little too close there, Dave?” Sam asked, smirking. I smiled and watched as everyone filtered into their seats. I retracted my skewer, examining the meat. I bit into it carefully and grinned when it was the perfect temperature.

“You’re going to eat that? It’s barely cooked,” Joe said, seeing that my hotdog was barely singed. I nodded and continued eating as everyone else got theirs significantly darker than mine. Sam started passing the buns and condiments around. I refused one, but Mikey put his on one and slathered it in mustard, much to my distaste.

“That’s nasty,” I commented as he handed the materials to James. He looked at me and smirked, biting into his food and getting mustard on his lips before kissing me roughly. I pulled away quickly and stuck my tongue out. “Mikey! God, that’s so gross.” He smirked and continued eating.

“Aren’t you two just adorable,” Dave teased.

“We are in fact, Dave,” Mikey said and Dave laughed.

“When are you coming back to visit?” Sam asked as he polished off his hotdog and took a swig of his beer.

I shrugged and took a drink of my own. “I don’t know. It’s Mikey’s turn to come visit me next.”

“You should just move out here,” Dave said. Mikey and I exchanged careful glances.

He cleared his throat. “We haven’t really discussed it, but it’s only been a few months.” I nodded in relief at his answer.

“But I am going to be back in August for Reading and Leeds,” I commented.

“Good. When you’re not here he never shuts up about you,” Joe said. I turned to smirk at Mikey, his cheeks crimson and he muttered a, “Shut up,” to him.

“Can I get s’mores now?” I asked. Sam nodded and I got up, walking to the table in anticipation. I shoved a marshmallow on my skewer and grabbed a graham cracker and a piece of chocolate. I took my place on Mikey’s lap once more and stuck the marshmallow in the fire. Again, I waited until it was hardly brown before assembling my s’more.

“I’m really going to miss you guys,” I stated as I took a bite. They all smiled sadly at me and Mikey squeezed my knee in reassurance. I let him finish my s’more and kissed the chocolate off of his lips before snuggling into his chest. We all sat in silence, drinking our beers and listening to the peaceful crackling of the fire. I took a deep breath, inhaling Mikey’s natural scent. I felt tears sting my eyes as I looked around at the faces of everyone I’ve come to hold so dear to my heart. I struggled to hold my sobs back, not wanting to ruin the aura. I felt Mikey’s thumb wipe a tear away and I looked up to his eyes. He smiled sadly at me and pressed his lips to my forehead. I sniffled and laid my head back down. I was 5,000 miles away from my house, but I’ve never felt so at home.

Notes