Thanks for the reviews! Sorry it took so long to update. College has been keeping me busy. Anyway, this jumps ahead to after Ryan walks away from Mike.
"Take care of yourself, Mike," Ryan said as he turned and walked away.
Mike watched as Ryan walked away. A single tear trickled down his cheek. There went his hero, his one true love. After all they've been through together, Ryan chose to leave.
He couldn't take it anymore. After the car escorting Ryan pulled away, Mike ran to his car. He was out of the parking lot so fast that his tires screeched. As soon as he was far enough away, the tears cascaded like a waterfall down his cheeks.
He could barely focus on the road. Several cars honked their horns as he swerved into the opposite lane. Realizing that he was endangering others, he pulled into the back parking lot of a grocery store. The heartbreak suddenly turned into anger. He pounded his fists against the steering wheel and let out an enraged scream. He pounded so hard that the car shook, causing a picture to fall from the sun visor above him. It was a picture of the two of them from their fateful encounter months earlier.
Mike stared at the picture for a few moments. It was as if he was reliving that night. His hand in Ryan's, Ryan's lips on his cheek, and Ryan looking drunk, yet happy. Mike tore up the picture and threw the pieces out the window. The pieces scattered in the wind, blowing away, just like Ryan and Mike's relationship.
Mike took a few deep breaths.
"It's time to move on," he said aloud.
After composing himself, he drove home. Despite his outburst earlier, he seemed rather calm as he set his keys down next to a framed picture of Ryan. He took the picture out and threw it into the trash can below. He did the same with every picture of Ryan he had around his house.
Shortly after, he changed clothes and went to bed. As soon as he was about to fall asleep, he heard a knock at the door. He hesitated, but got up and answered it.
Ryan stood in the doorway, his face sullen. Mike tried to close the door, but Ryan's foot caught it before it shut.
"Hear me out, please. I was wrong. I shouldn't have walked away."
Mike just stared at Ryan. Tears formed in his eyes again.
"You promised you would stay, Ryan. Remember, 'Fly away together and sway forever?"
"It was a weak moment. Seeing the tears in your eyes made me think. I walked away because I didn't want you to get hurt anymore."
"You do this time and time again! You act like you mean what you say, then pull the 'It's not you, it's me' card."
"I know I've hurt you, and I'm sorry."
"No, you're not. If you were sorry you wouldn't be pulling the same crap over and over again."
Mike tried to slam the door, but Ryan pushed his leg in farther.
"Just give me another chance. I realized that I'm nothing without you."
Mike opened the door, and Ryan stepped in. The first thing he noticed was that the picture of him on the table was gone.
"What happened to the picture?"
"I thought you wouldn't come back, so I tossed it."
"Are you going to put it back?"
"It depends. I'm not putting any pictures of you around my house if you're going to leave again."
"I'm here to stay, Mike. I have some things back in Brooklyn to take care of, but as soon as I'm finished, I will move up here."
"I don't think it's that simple, Ryan. I'm not getting my hopes up until you prove to me that you mean what you say."
"I know I've made it hard for you to trust me, but I'm willing to change. No one has ever made me feel more loved and appreciated the way that you have. Not even Claire."
Mike opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Ryan stepped closer and kissed Mike. His lips tasted of coffee.
"No vodka?" Mike asked jokingly.
"Not this time. I wanted to drink, but I can't fall into old habits."
"That makes me feel a lot better. If you passed up drinking, then you can kick the habit of leaving me."
Ryan kissed Mike again, grabbing his waist and pulling him closer. Ryan pushed Mike against the table as their kiss became more passionate. Mike's elbow hit his stereo, turning it on. Coincidentally, "Sway" by Frank Sinatra began playing.
"Our song," both Ryan and Mike said at the same time.
With that, Ryan took Mike in his arms the way he had months ago. They swayed to the music, their bodies close together.
Mike had a strong feeling that Ryan was back for good. He relaxed in Ryan's arms and took a deep breath. Their bodies fit perfectly together.
All the tension between them didn't matter anymore. They were together, living in the moment. Not a care in the world. Swaying forever.
Whew! I got some major feels while writing this. Hopefully there will be more Hardston in future episodes to keep the inspiration coming!
