We quietly pushed the door open, knowing the Mrs. Louise was probably asleep at midnight. I felt a bit nervous for some reason, like as if I shouldn't be there. He flipped on a lamp and sneaked into the kitchen. I noticed a note on the counter top and read it off to Michael.

"Asked to stay and work the night shift at the hospital. I'll be back in the morning. Stay out of trouble." I raised an eyebrow and looked around for him. "Michael?" I called out. No answer.

I stepped into the living room and peered around. "Michael?" My head snapped up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs. I followed to echoing sound through the house and ran up the steps. "Michael!" I yelled. All I heard was a slight giggle a door shut. I was left to stand at the end of the lengthy hallway.

I had to admit, I was somewhat freaked out. I knew it was just Michael and I at his house, but this actually felt like a horror movie. I could tell he was up to something and he just wanted me to play along, so I did.

There were four doors in the hallway. Two on the left, one on the right, and one at the very end. I slowly walked to the first door on the left and opened in, sticking my head in. Nothing. I checked in side the other two rooms and walked over to the door at the end.

"Michaellll." I sing-songed. I stepped inside the room and shut the door behind me. The walls were a soft grey, along with the bed spread. A lamp lit the room, but it didn't do much justice. I looked around, noticing a few band posters hanging next to the bed.

The table next to it had a picture of what looked like two parents and they're young boy who looked around 9 or 10. I picked the frame up and instantly recognized the child: Michael. He basically looked the same, just his hair was a different color.

My eyes trailed around the room and I got up off his bed and stepped towards the wall where his posters were attached to. I scanned each picture when I heard someone clearing their throat.

Michael was leaned against his door frame, and now in dry clothes. His arms were folded loosely across his chest and one ankle crossed the other.

"I didn't even hear you come in.." I said in a hushed tone.

"Snooping around I see?" He asked, a cheeky smile on his face. He sat on his bed and let his legs dangle off the edge. He patted the spot next to him, wanting me to join him.

"Well," I turned to him and folded my arms across my chest, just the way he had them when he stood in the doorway. "You did leave me on a chase to find you." I stopped directly in front of him, ignoring his gesture to sit. My knees were touching his, as there wasn't very much room from the bed to the wall.

"You know what we should do?" He placed his elbows on his knees and stared up at me. I raised an eyebrow as I glared back down at him and let him continue on. A smug smile pulled at his lips as he began to stand up. His tall frame lingered over me, making me feel vulnerable.

Michael reached over my head, grabbing a box off the shelf that was opposite of the wall in front of it. He was gently pressed against me, but nothing too uncomfortable. He settled back to his original state, sitting on the bed. A white, plastic card was in his between his pointer and middle finger and I instantly recognized the fake ID.

"No way, Michael. Your grandmother specifically said no getting in trouble. And using a fake ID to get alcohol and into clubs isn't staying out of trouble." I sternly said, sounding more like his mother than friend.

"Live a little. No one will find out." He snickered.

I bent over, placing my hands on his knees and met him at eye level. No words came out of my mouth, hoping he'd get the hint that there was no way in hell this was happening. His smile faded into sullen frown, then back into a smirk.

In one rapid movement, he grabbed my wrists and pulled me on top of him as he laid back. My arms were on each side of his chest and his grip moved up to my upper arms. I gaped at his hand placement then met Michael's eyes. My face flushed as my mind processed what this would look like if someone came in.

"W-What are you-" I stumbled over my words now flustered. He cut me off by flipping us over, him now pinning me down. Our legs were tangled together and his arms rested by either side of my head. I looked to my left, then back up at him.

He bit his bottom lip then released it by letting out a laugh. Mine followed right after his, breaking the seriousness of the moment. His head dropped by ear and leaned in close to me.

"Just tell me when to stop." I was confused by his statement and I opened my mouth to question him, but his lips on my neck stopped me from doing so.

I inhaled sharply at the feeling of his lips pressed right below my ear. My arms draped around his neck pulling him closer. He moved down lower, nipping harder.

"You can say when." He mumbled against my skin.

But that's the thing; I didn't want to say when. I didn't want to tell him to stop. After all this time I told myself to keep some distance, but deep down I knew that there could be distance far enough that could keep me from being attracted to him.

My hand grasped the back of his neck and my fingers lazy played with his hair. He picked up his head and let his now red lips hovered over mine.

"She said no to trouble, not no to fun." He whispered. He lingered there for a second, as if he was hesitating.

My breath hitched as his lips connected with mine. He was gentle, as if I would break under his touch. It wasn't rough, it wasn't needy, it was compassionate. I kissed back just as subtle as he did. Michael pulled back just barely, but enough to break our contact.

It was a short yet meaningful kiss. I could feel his caring nature through it and that's what made it special. Most guys who first kissed girls would immediately turn it into something heated, as if they were deprived from their affection towards the girl. Maybe I wasn't exactly "special" to Michael, but I knew from to get go that he treated me with respect and attentiveness.

He rolled off of me and laid next to me with his back against the sheets, matching me. I heard a sigh escape his lips, not a remorseful way, but in a lighthearted way. We laid in a peaceful silence.

Now here's the thing, usually these kind of things would be awkward, but it seems Michael could get rid of the term awkward easily and doing so just by being present. Whether we were emotional wrecks, or he catches me basically half naked, or, in this situation, laying in silence after a kiss neither of us knew we wanted so badly.

"Maddie?" He asks, breaking the silence. I don't give a reply, but simply turn my head to look at him. He urged me closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me close to his side. I tucked my head into his shoulder and warmed up to him.

"You know I care right?" He said, looking over at me. I placed a hand on his chest, sitting up slightly as my look turned to a confused state. He attentively watched me, taking in the sight of all my features.

"I just.." His picked my hand up from his chest and placed our palms together as if he was comparing the size difference. "I feel like the world wasn't made for you, Maddie." He started playing with my fingers, lightly grazing over them with his own. He propped his head up with his elbow which made me rest back on his shoulder. "But rather you were made for the world."

His eyes delicately switched their attention over to me. I kept my eyes on the patterns he was tracing on my hand. I didn't really have much to say. Not in a bad way, though, but I still stayed quiet. His pushed his fingers through the empty v's of mine, intertwining our fingers together.

"I know." I finally decided to speak up as I returned his gaze. That's all I could really make out and he understood. He placed a finger under my chin and pulled me towards him. My eyelashes fluttered against his cheeks and his lips pressed against my forehead. I smiled unconsciously as he pulled back.

He untangled himself from me and crawled over to the head of his bed, pulling back the comforter. His hand reached our for mine and I willingly accepted the offer. His arm wrapped around my waist as he pulled me to him, closing any possible space between us. I instantly fell tired and I squinted at the clock sitting on the table next to us. 1:30am.

My eyes drooped and I buried into Michael's chest and started to drift off to sleep. My thoughts circulated around of the events that have happened in the past month. I couldn't believe some of these things had happened, whether it was for worst or for the best. Mostly for the best though.

I was half asleep when I started to feel Michael trying to pry me off of him.

"Sorry." I mumbled as I released my grip and sat up, loosely tucking my hair behind my ear. The lights were now turned off and I was only able to see his outline. His arms lifted and threw something to the corner of the room.

"No, it's fine." He said back, pulling me back into his now bare chest. Heat radiated off of him and added to my warmth. "Can't sleep with a shirt." He chuckled.

My arm settled across his chest and I kept my eyes open. Eventually, my eyes adjusted to the darkness and I could easily make out the details of his figure. One of his arms gripped my waist and the other rested on his head. I noticed black cursive writing under his bicep that contrasted against his light skin.

"I didn't know you had a tattoo.." I quietly said. I reached out and gently traced over the loops and curves that I could make out. "What does it say?" I asked, not stopping my action.

"To the moon." He responded. He let me carry on for a little while before bring his arm down and reaching out for my cheek. He tilted my head up carefully before kissing me softly once again. "Goodnight Maddie." He mumbled against my lips.

"Goodnight Michael." I whispered. He let go of me and I lowered my head onto him once again. And with those words, I fell asleep to the steady beat against his chest.