Chapter five:
He heads to Dans place to try to decide what to do.
Dan had given him the spare key as a gift and is always welcome as Dan put it.
Gavin paces in the living room with a hand against his chin so his finger tips brush his bottom lip on some fingers with the rest brushing against his top lip. He hasn't had any reply whatsoever from Michael and it truly worries him. He just hopes that the other is ok but now he needs to figure out what to do. He finally stops after a bit and lowers his hand quickly to grab his cellphone. He brings it up and dials one number before bringing the phone to his ear waiting for an answer.
"Hello?"
"Ray." Gavin says glad that he other answered. "There is something important we need to talk about."
"Oh?" Ray asks sounding intrigued.
"Can I start by asking where Micool went? Just before we get started."
"We don't know." Ray admits. "He didn't go back because his mother hasn't seen him. He isn't at his place. Eventually we ran out of places to check. He won't answer anyone so we have no idea where he has gone."
"Oh I see." Gavins shoulder slump. "Well alright Ray. Please keep this between us for now."
"Vav. Is everything alright?" Ray asks a little worried.
"Not really." Gavin admits. "Something happened between me and Michael and now I'm trying to fix it."
"What happened dude?" Ray asks as he now seems to have forgotten that the world exists as he just focuses on listening to Gavin.
Gavin sighs. "Well... I messed up..." He begins rubbing a hand against the back of his neck. "I mean... We were just hanging out and well it sort of happened."
"Did you two really make Mavin real?" Ray asks seemingly feigning surprise. "I was certain I saw a connection there."
"Um kind of." Gavin says. "It wasn't planned or anything it just sort of happened. We tried talking about it the next morning but eventually it got pushed aside as it'll be a one night stand because of my relationship with Dan." He explains as his hand drops to his side from the back of his neck. "Our friendship seemed to turn to where it was almost like he was avoiding me... I eventually asked him about it but he pushed it away as that he's fine as he told me the morning after what happened. I ended up believing him. I was so happy that he said that our friendship was not ruined... The subject of what happened was pushed from my mind for a bit as I became distracted. Maybe I said some wrong things or he interpreted them wrong... I think I probably said a few wrong things because that sounds like me and my mind sometimes not thinking these things through or at all before speaking. But I talked to Michael and after a text about Dan asking me to live with him... I haven't heard from him since. I had been waiting to talk to him face to face... But he wasn't there. And he won't answer his phone. I've tried calling and texting in the time before I called you."
"Dude that is so not cool." Ray says and Gavin can only imagine his eyes flickering to the phone with slight anger. He and Lindsay are the ones that know of Michaels crush on Gavin. He found out after his own announcement with Ryan that they are together when Michael approached him to ask for help with starting a homosexual relationship.
Lindsay and Ray found out that they both knew about it when they took him away to talk when Michael seemed a little down in which Michael vent to them... Thus it kind of just came out in greater detail than before.
Ray knows, while Gavin doesn't know, that the whole thing probably ended up with Michael having a broken heart.
"I know. I already feel like shit for it. I should have taken how he truly felt about it all into account. I should have done something more about it... I should have thought before I spoke. You have no idea how much guilt I felt when it dawned upon me. I was a big dumb stupid idiot." Gavin says with sincerity then shakes his head to get back on track. "Anyways. I want to try to amend things. I have to talk to him."
There is a moments pause as if Ray might be wondering just how serious Gavin is.
Gavin can assure him though that he is most definitely serious. He for now waits for Ray to decide for himself.
Ray finally responds. "You better not fuck this up Gavin."
"Thank you." Gavin says relieved.
"I can do what I can but I don't know where Michael is." Ray informs him.
"Maybe we'll be able to find him." Gavin says with hope.
"Try talking to Lindsay." Ray suggests.
Gavin nods. "Ok yeah I will. Thanks."
The two hang up and Gavin heads off to Lindsay's place in hope that Michael has been secretly hiding out there.
He arrives and stands on the front step. He takes a moment before knocking on Lindsay's door. He waits then the door begins to open in which his heart begins to pick up in pace a little.
Lindsay stands there and looks to Gavin before her eyes narrow. She turns trying to close the door before storming away but Gavin catches the door.
"Lindsay!" Gavin rushes after her and finds her on her black couch in her living room.
She has her arms crossed over her chest and she looks to him with a hard glare. "What are you doing here?" She demands sharply.
"I'm looking for Micool." Gavin explains.
"For what? So you can hurt him some more?!" Lindsay growls.
"No." Gavin shakes his head then focuses back on Lindsay. "Because I was big dumb stupid idiot." He begins. "And I want to make things right."
"How am I sure you're not lying to me?" Lindsay questions. She's obviously still angry but she doesn't seem as angry as before.
"I don't know what I can do to prove that to you." Gavin begins. "But what I can say is that I am not lying. Whether you will take my word for it or not is up to you. I just hope that you believe me and give me a chance to prove myself to not only you but Micool as well. Please let me talk to him."
Lindsay pauses for a few moments then sighs softly almost as if her anger has gone down some again. "It doesn't matter if I believe you or not." She says glancing to her lap as she lets her arms fall to said lap. "I don't know where he is."
Gavin slumps upon hearing this. "You too?"
Lindsay nods. "He never told me where he was going or anything. I can only assume that he wants time alone for a bit. Away from Rooster teeth and he doesn't want us just going after him to bother him about it."
Gavin sighs. "Even if that is the case... That he wants to be away from everyone for a bit... I won't give up. I have to find him and talk to him. I have to set things right." He turns to the direction the door is in. "Thanks Lindsay. For at least trying to help." He then leaves the home and he can feel Lindsay watching him until he is out of her sight. He stuffs his hands into his pants pockets then he glances up to the sky. "Where are you Micool?" He says to no one before looking straight ahead and he begins walking. He wanders around the city but finds no sign of the other anywhere.
Eventually he has to go back home for the night.
Geoff turns to him as he enters. "Find anything?"
"No." Gavin sighs heavily and plops down onto the couch. "It almost seems like he just vanished." He closes his eyes with another sigh. "But I won't give up. It's important that I find him."
Geoff tilts his head and listens as Gavin continues.
"I mean. I have to set things right. I might have messed up big time and I feel like shit for it." He explains and opens his eyes to half way staring at the ceiling. "I don't want to lose him."
"It's good that whatever happened you want to make sure to set things right." Geoff says. "Do you mind if I ask what happened?"
"Long version or short?" Gavin asks then rubs a hand along his face before dropping it to his lap.
"Whichever one you're more comfortable with." Geoff says.
"I made mistakes and I think I was unintentionally a jerk." Gavin sighs heavily. "And as I have said before to Lindsay and Ray I was a big dumb stupid idiot."
"I'll do what I can to help." Geoff says. "Though right now it doesn't sound like we are going to find him."
Gavin wants to sigh once more but holds back on it. "Thank you." He closes his eyes again.
The next day...
Gavin is pacing in the achievement hunter office trying to think of where Michael could have gone.
The others are currently working.
Gavin thinks as hard as he can with a hand on his chin.
'I can only assume that he wants time alone for a bit. Away from Rooster teeth and he doesn't want us just going after him to bother him about it.'
'Though right now it doesn't sound like we are going to find him.'
As the words that Lindsay and Geoff said to him ring in his head a realization dawns on him and he stops pacing his hand falling slowly to his side.
"That's it!" He exclaims loudly causing a few of the others to jump but they all turn to him. "I think I know where Micool went!" He turns to them as best as he can.
Geoff is immediately on his feet. "Where?"
"There is a place where it would make it hard to find him. In the past he showed me the general direction to go." Gavin explains.
"Well let's go." Geoff nods.
"I'm coming too!" Ray says jumping to his feet.
The others make sounds of agreement.
"Then let's go! We can drive as far as we can but we'll have to walk the rest of the way."
"Where to?" Geoff asks.
"The forest just outside of town to the west." Gavin instructs.
"I've been there before. Let's go." Geoff nods.
They hurry dashing off and pile into Geoffs car.
Soon they are off on their way.
Gavin looks out the window as he is sitting in the passenger seat. He hopes that he is right that Michael is there. He blinks as he hardly notices the car ride go on until they reach the forest in which Geoff pulls over to the side of the road.
Everyone gets out and Geoff locks the car.
"Lead the way Gavin." Geoff says and Gavin nods.
They head into the forest with Gavin in the lead.
They start by going along the trail that is marked by dirt.
"Do you think he'll be there?" Ray asks after they have been waking for a little bit.
"It's a possibility." Geoff says.
"Hey!"
The others stop and turn seeing that Gavin is standing behind a bush that is at his feet going up to almost his knees just off the path. They had gotten a little distracted and didn't see Gavin turn.
"It's this way!" Gavin says and turns to continue.
The others go after him to follow as they walk through the bushes and around trees.
"Oh and she has a bit of a sharp tongue apparently. Just a heads up." Gavin says glancing back before looking back to where they are going.
They emerge out of the bushes and into an open area hidden deep in the woods.
There is a large tree that has been made into a home even if it is rather small compared to even apartments.
"Wow." Geoff gasps. "I never knew a place like this existed at all." He scans the place still in amazement.
"It's not public knowledge." Gavin says.
"Oh look. A group has come." A slightly older ladies voice says. She sounds to be about Geoffs age.
The achievement hunters turn to her.
She is wearing a red cloak, a black zipped up vest, mahogany pants and black boots that almost reach her knees. Her hair is a dark brown color and is pulled back into a ponytail with a hair elastic that has a grey moon the size of a flower you would see on a hair elastic. Her sapphire eyes do not really look welcoming as if she is hiding herself away with a stone cold exterior.
"We came here looking for Micool." Gavin says.
"I know a Michael but I cannot say for sure that it is who you're looking for." The woman says watching them. "Is that all that you wanted?"
"Is he here?" Geoff asks taking a step forward.
"I still cannot say for sure it is who you are looking for." The woman says. "So what are you still doing here!?"
"But there is a chance Esmerelda." Gavin says. "Please. Is Micool here? Or at least a Micool? If so then we can see if it is him or not."
"Why don't you leave and figure out something better to do?" Esmerelda turns away slightly with a slight huff.
"Why do you keep snapping at us?" Ray asks. "We came here for our friend."
"I dislike humanity. It is the reason I stay here." Esmerelda flickers her eyes to them. "Almost all of humanity is something I hate."
"Esmerelda." Gavin steps forward. "Please let us talk to Micool if he's here."
Esmeralda sighs. "Why don't you just go home." She says in a commanding tone rather than one of asking. She turns away to face her tree home. "I don't like to give answers to just any of the humanity."
"Please." Ray begins but is interrupted.
"Are you still here!?" Esmeralda snaps at them.
"Please. If Michael is here tell him that we miss him and that we hope he will return soon." Geoff says then ushers the others away as it becomes obvious that they won't get anything.
Esmeralda watches them go with a slight glare then turns away heading into her home closing the door. She turns to Michael.
Michael is sitting on the ground his back against the wall not far from the door loosely curled up with his knees up. He's looking down. He had dashed in here when he heard the others approaching.
"How long do you think you can keep running from this?" Esmeralda asks him as she watches him with a slightly softer look than the one she gave the others.
"For as long as I can or need to." Michael says almost sighing.
"I can do a lot of things Michael." Esmeralda says closing her eyes only for a moment. "But what I can't do is fix a broken heart." She tells him as she opens her eyes half way to look to him. "You'll have to face this eventually. You know that right?"
Michael nods softly. "I just..." He lowers his head to his arms around his knees so the bottom half of his face is covered but he makes sure he can still speak clearly. "I just don't want to ruin Gavins happiness. He's happy with Dan."
"You should talk to them. They are your friends." Esmeralda points out.
Michael shakes his head. "If I say anything I'm going to ruin Gavins happiness. I just know it. I'm sure by now they are probably engaged. I shouldn't say anything about this."
Esmeralda sighs softly. "I am just letting you know what you should probably do." She says then heads over to her working table to make a few healing potions.
Michael lowers his head to fully bury it in his arms. He wonders how long he can run from this... How long should he run away from it...?