I answered the first time, but I just can't deal with him right now. I've turned my cell off completely.
Michael and I are now strolling around down town, window shopping.
"That's nice," Michael said with a sigh. "Those neck lines really suit Max."
"Look over there!" I said quickly, pointing across the road. There's nothing to see, of course, but I have to distract him from thinking about Max. So far, he's mentioned him in some way or another nearly a dozen times, and each time we end up in Starbucks, ordering coffees. I just don't think I can handle any more caffeine.
"What is it?" Michael asked, taking the hook, line and sinker.
"Oh, um, right there, in that store. Don't you see that jacket? It's nice."
"I didn't think you liked leather, because of the whole animal skin thing."
"Oh, is it leather?" I asked dumbly, because of course you can tell it's leather. "I didn't realise."
"I think it is," Michael said. "Let's go check."
We carefully crossed the road and walked up to the shop window.
"Yeah, see, it is."
"Oh, too bad. Come on, let's go."
I turned around to keep walking along the street but Michael never followed me.
"Michael?" I called behind me. "What's wrong?"
He's looking back across the street, at the store we were at only minutes ago. He didn't respond to my questions. I looked over at the store to see Max.
And not a solo Max, he's with another guy!
"Come on," I pulled Michael by the arm. "We're going."
"But…but…" he stuttered, an adorable confused look on his face.
"He's probably just a friend. There's a Starbucks around the corner, let's go."
I led him by the hand (rather reluctantly) into the coffee store. Then I sat him down in a chair and ordered our usual.
"I don't understand," he wailed. "We only just broke up! How could he have replaced me already?"
"I don't know," I said, feeling stupid for not being able to say anything else.
"Do you think they were together before we broke up? Is this new guy the reason we broke up?"
He started analysing the smallest things about their relationship. He was talking fast, and more to himself than to me. Eventually he stood up and walked out.
"Michael, wait," I called out.
"No, Mia, I need to be alone. I'll call you later."
"Michael, I don't know if being alone is really what you need right now. Just talk to me about it."
But he'd already stormed off, leaving me with Lars and two undrunk coffees.
As best friend, I feel it is my duty to tell the ex-boyfriend what an asshole he is for hurting said best friend.
I had Lars take me to Stillton first thing on Sunday morning.
I've never been to Stillton before, but Michael has talked about it enough, and I know which room Max's is.
I knocked loudly and prepared myself.
Just before the door opened, I almost ran away. I hate confrontations, but this really needs to be done. I owe it to Michael.
"Mia?" Max asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.
"Max," I said bluntly. "Where is he?"
"Michael? I don't know. Didn't you hear we broke up?"
"Of course I know you guys broke up. Who do you think has had to be the supportive best friend? The shoulder to cry on? I'm not talking about Michael. I'm talking about the guy we saw you with yesterday. The guy you were probably cheating on Michael with."
I took a deep breath. It took a lot to say all that.
Max stared at me blankly.
"Oh, God," was all he said. "Mia, it's complicated. It really is."
"Everything is always complicated. I just don't get why you would hurt someone as sweet as Michael. If you wanted to be with this other guy, you should have come clean with him as soon as you knew. It's not fair."
"I know it's not fair. It's not fair to anyone. But you don't understand."
"I'm listening."
"Well, you'd better come in."
I hesitantly walked past him into his room, and sat on his bed. He pulled out the desk chair and sat down himself.
"That guy you saw me with yesterday," he started, taking a deep breath. "His name is Dan. He was my first boyfriend and we never really ended things. He moved away about a year and a half ago, and I never thought we'd ever see each other again. Keeping in touch was hard, so when I moved to New York, I didn't bother to tell him my new address. I didn't think it was going to work out, and I wanted to get out…And then I met Michael."
He stopped talking for a minute. His gaze is fixed on a picture of him and Michael on his bedside table. His face looks sad and solemn. I almost feel bad for him, but I won't let myself.
"But then I came to Stillton and Dan was here. It was strange, and there's still a spark. I can't deny that." He looked at me with a guilty expression, then he looked away again. "I've been so confused, and I've been making excuses to Michael because I haven't wanted to see him while I'm sorting it all out. I still don't have it sorted out, I don't know what I want. But I thought it was better to end things with Michael since it wasn't fair to him if I didn't know what I wanted."
Okay, now I do feel bad for him. He's not the asshole I've been thinking him to be. Sure, I wish he hadn't broken Michael's heart, but maybe it was the best thing to do at the time. I believe he had the right intentions.
"So what are you going to do about Dan?" I asked softly.
"I don't know," he said, his voice quaking a little. "I'm so confused, I don't know what to do. But I feel really bad about Michael, I really do like him…love him, actually." He took a deep breath. "I just don't know."
"Well, I don't know what to tell you, I'm sorry."
He nodded.
I stood up and let myself out. Now what am I going to tell Michael?
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