I want to start saying that I never meant for this to get so full of drama. Also this idea was given to me by my brother.
Thanks harper83
Regret
The cold November wind sweeps through the trees, shuddering against the car as Michael drives home to DC. His face is set in grim lines, reflecting his overall mood of the past months. Those who know him at school don't think twice about his behavior, not knowing the brooding man isn't the true Michael Hodgins.
Only his family in DC would notice the dark circles under his eyes, the result of many sleepless nights. His father would be shocked at how thin he has become and his mother worried at the years that seem to have settled on his face. But everyone who looks at him, whether old family or new friends, can see the sadness in his eyes.
Passing by slower cars, he thinks back on the first couple of weeks he spent in the new city. He remembers how much his heart ached, replaying his last conversations with Christine over and over. He had convinced himself that what he did was for the best, that she would be happier without being tied down to him. But as the days went by, he realized that what he did was for himself because he was scared of how deep his feelings were. He tried to push past it, to date other women but they were disasters, both parties knowing that his heart wasn't really into it. A month after leaving DC he finally admitted it to himself: he is in love with Christine Booth.
But he had messed up, broken her heart. And because of that he had to wait for her to make contact first. And the longer he waited, dreaming of her night after night, the worst his eating and sleeping habits became. To stop the strange looks from his roommate he had used his long nights to study, causing his grades to soar. But for the first time in his life he finds that he doesn't care about his grades.
Then a month ago he been shocked to open his email and find a letter from Christine. It had taken him five minutes of staring to open the email, his heart beating wildly with hope. The short and awkward message obliterated those hopes. Yes, she wished he was happy and glad that he was doing well in school (either she asked or his dad couldn't stop himself from bragging). But she was dating someone; a guy named Jason (who was a dick as far as Michael can remember though he may be a little biased). The only comfort he got was from her parting line that they could hopefully try to be friends again. And he replied in agreement though he felt his heart cracking to pieces, knowing deserves it, that this is what he wanted for her in the first place. But he still hasn't stopped loving her.
He hasn't told anyone about his feelings, about his regret but he senses that his mother knows. He has tentatively reestablished ties with the Booth family, his Aunt Tempe being the easiest. He is still afraid of the two FBI agents and the reception they will give him later in the day when they join together for Thanksgiving.
Passing by a familiar business building takes him out of his thoughts. He reaches into his pocket for his cell to call his mother as promised. Listening to the phone ring, he shifts in his seat, tired from the long drive.
"Hodgins residence," an upbeat voice chimes. Michael feels as if someone punched him the gut, not prepared to hear her voice, especially so cheerful.
"Hi, Christine," he says in a low voice, swallowing hard past the tightening of his throat.
"Michael." Her voice is breathless; she is obviously as surprised as he is. She clears her throat and he thinks he hears something in her tone but waves it off as wishful thinking. "Hi. You're…are you in town yet?"
"Yeah, I'm about twenty minutes out." He grips the steering wheel with his free hand, surprised at the mixture of joy and pain at talking to her. "So, uh, you guys are over early."
"Oh yeah, our oven broke before we could make the pies. And you know how my dad is about pie," she chuckles. There is an awkward pause before she clears her throat and this time when she speaks he can clearly hear her nerves. "I'll uh, go get your mom."
"Christine, wait." He takes a deep breath, knowing he shouldn't be telling her this, especially now but he doesn't seem able to stop himself. "Christine, I'm sorry. I-"
He doesn't get to finish as the car behind him slams his smaller car into the intersection and right into the path of an oncoming van. He hears the sound of screeching tires and sees a flash of all his loved ones, Christine's face the most prominent before the his vision is filled with the oncoming car.
Blame my brother!
Most important: I'm not killing Michael.
But I'm still a little conflicted on where I want to go next ( I have two ideas in my head). I would really love your opinions, but please please no flames. (you have no idea how nervous I was to post this).