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When Tony's parents had left, Michelle began to tidy up the kitchen and lounge. Tony's dad had been drinking beer, so she collected the empty bottles and threw them away. She rarely drank alcohol, disliking the thought that she was not in full control of her emotions or actions. Tony also rarely drank, although he found it relaxing to drink a couple of beers after a stressful day at work.
They settled on the sofa together, and Tony felt closer to Michelle than he had done since his arrival the previous day. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and they sat contently watching TV. "Do you remember the first time we went camping together?" Michelle asked, hoping that reminiscing about happy times would relax Tony, as it had done with his parents.
Did he remember it? Their first weekend away together, which Tony had planned, then surprised Michelle with the day before they were due to leave. She had fussed about the amount of work she needed to do during the weekend, but was so touched by the romantic gesture from Tony that she gave in, and they took a quiet weekend on their own. They had had so much fun that weekend, walking along the cliffs together, lying in each other's arms on the beach and swimming in the sea, that Tony knew he could never let Michelle go. They had spent almost the entire weekend smiling and laughing together, and it was one of Tony's happiest memories. "Yeah!" he smiled at Michelle, pulling her closer to him. "And to think that you almost didn't come because of work!"
Michelle smiled; she had forgotten how worried she had been before leaving. Back then, before Tony had come along, work had been her top priority. He had showed her more fun than she had ever had in her life, and she loved him so deeply for it.
Thinking of work reminded Michelle that she hadn't finished her report for Division, which was due in the next day. She was reluctant to leave Tony, especially as it felt so comfortable and safe cuddled up to him on the sofa, but she knew that her boss would be displeased if she failed to produce the completed report. "Tony," she said, looking him in the eye, "I've got a report to finish for work tomorrow."
Tony was disappointed. He had looked forward to spending the evening curled up with Michelle, feeling happy and warm. He turned to Michelle, leaned forwards and kissed her. Michelle felt her heartbeat rising, she kissed him back passionately. How she had missed him. Tony could feel her weaken, and pulled back for a moment staring longingly into her eyes. He had hated being separated from Michelle more than anything during his time in prison, he loved her so much, had missed her so badly and didn't want to be apart from her ever again. He moved forwards and kissed her again, holding her tightly, never wanting to let go.
Michelle eventually pulled away. "Stay," Tony said simply.
Michelle sighed. "I can't. I'm sorry Tony, but I really need to get it done".
He pulled away from her, staring at the floor so she wouldn't see the hurt in his eyes. He had only been back for one day, and already she would rather work than be with him. Didn't she want him?
Michelle felt awful; she knew how much Tony wanted her to stay. She felt a desperate urge to sit back down, cuddle up to him and forget about work. But she couldn't. Now that Tony was back, bills were going to rise, and she needed to keep her job. The deputy director at Division was leaving in a few months, and Michelle was hoping for a promotion. She needed to keep up her high standard of working if she was going to achieve it. She left the room, and made her way upstairs to finish the report.
Tony scowled. How could she just walk away from him like that, when he so clearly wanted her to stay? He was also worried, as the subject of work had been brought up again. How on earth was he supposed to find employment? He didn't even want a job.
He grabbed a cushion and threw it across the room, knocking a pile of DVDs from the top of the TV. He lay back, trying to put all thoughts out of his mind to calm himself down. Then he recognised what his body was urging him to do, something that he had repressed for so long during his prison stay. He needed a drink. A strong drink.
Michelle sighed. She was struggling to concentrate on the report through worry for Tony. Everything had seemed fine earlier, when Tony had been laughing with his parents, but now… Was it her fault? Should she be giving Tony one hundred percent attention, rather than worrying about work and money? It was such a difficult situation, and she didn't know who she could talk to about it. She didn't feel comfortable talking to her friends about him, and who else was there? Jack had promised to call round when Tony had settled in, but she didn't dare tell him too much about her feelings, as he would surely be talking to Tony soon.
Taking a gulp of his drink, Tony lay back for a moment and shut his eyes, taking in the strong smell and taste, willing it to reach his brain quickly, and allow him to cloud his mind, and forget. He quickly finished the drink, and got up for another… then another…