Chapter 7 (Sidney's Pov)

• You know that feeling, when you get home, but it just feels like something is still missing? Yeah well, I have felt like that the whole day since I came home. Sure there was mom, dad, all my aunts and uncles, their amazing kids and off course my monster brothers… but one special person was still missing, but it was not if I was very disappointed since I came home prepared to acknowledge his absence for yet another holiday where we just simply missed each other, but for the first time since I left for college, maybe universe was actually on my side, because I was just having fun with my mom and aunts, skating and having no worry in the world while we fool around and laughed like crazy, and the next moment there he stood.
• He was just a few steps away from the frozen lake where we were skating, but as soon as he caught my eyes he started moving and I was like in a trace, one moment I was skating and the next I was running to my best friend and jumping into his arms, almost tripping us both into the snow, but right now I did not even give a damn because after long years I was finally where I always felt the safest. I was in his arms, squeezing him like crazy and as if my life depended on that hug.
• “Damn pumpkin. I have missed you like crazy.” He murmured into my hair, and I must admit to myself at least, it sent goosebumps all over my body. You know the exciting kind. Wait. What? No! no goosebumps when we are speaking about Michael. We are just friends, and I grew out of that silly crush I had years ago. And honestly right now, my life was a huge cluster fuck, and I could really need my best friend.
• So, I pulled my self together, got my mind out of the gutter and focused on our friendship, “I have missed you too Mouse.” At my use of his old nickname, he started chuckling, “Relly Sid? Am I not a bit too old to be referred as Mickey Mouse?” yeah, you read that correctly. Since his name was Michael, his ex-girlfriend out of some weird reason realized shorted for Michael would be Mickey, and me being me, I started calling him Mouse. I admit, it was out of pure jealousy, because he always had a nickname for me even though it was not my favorite, but at it was mine and Michael gave me that nickname so in a way it was sacred. But I never came up with a nickname for him and there comes this girl and steals my thunder. Fuck that! I found a nickname in only a few seconds and stuck to it ever since.
• “Hey, do not hate Mickey Mouse. Have you been to Disneyland? Let me tell you, he is ginormous in person. So, to answer your question, nope, you are not too big. Deal with it.” And I just threw him my biggest smile, just to let him know I am not backing down. And just as I expected he just pulled me in for another hug and started laughing. Yeah, this was home.
• Suddenly a voice broke me out of my Michael centered bubble, “Hey sweetie, what are you… Oh, Hei Michael. I did not know you were going to come home as well. We have not seen you around in a while. How have you been?” At first, I just froze in Michael’s embrace, but then I remembered it was just my mom. She knew how close we had always been with Michael, so there was nothing weird for us to hug. But no other member of my family knew about Michael. They had heard a word or two about him here and there but that was all. You see once my dad returned into our lives, I had no idea how he would react to our friendship, and since he was pretty much adjusting to everything in our lives, I decided to keep our friendship to myself and hidden from everyone.
• “Hi Miss Cavanaugh. Life is pretty good and honestly, I had no idea I was coming home for the holidays, it was a last-minute decision. I even managed to surprise my mother.” At that they both laughed, and I just stared at them with a confused look on my face. Do they have private jokes now or what? I hated this weird feeling inside my gut, it was close to being insecure in our friendship, because there was never a time, I had not known anything about Michael or his life. I always knew what was going on and this new version of our friendship where it looked like I was missing some important information was just…weird to me.
• As soon as mom realized I had no idea why they were laughing she gave me a tender smile and explained what was going on at the moment, “Oh. Of course. You have not seen each other in a long time. Michael here and his mom have an ongoing competition to see who managed to surprise whom more often. And for the past year I think, Michael is in the lead.” Oh. Well, I know it was nothing big, but it still stung I was obviously the only person that had no idea about what was going on.
• “Hey Sid since I already have you here. Could I ask you to a cup of coffee one day in the morning or maybe brunch? Who knows when the next time would be when we see each other.” Michael tried to be nice and soft with his words, but the reminder of how much our lives have changed still stung. Still, I managed to mask my pain and gave him a smile, which I hoped did not look as forced as it felt, “I gladly accept your invite. Just text me when and where and I will be there.” The smile he returned to me was an honest one. He went to remove his arms from my body but at the last moment changed his mind before he kissed my cheek while enveloping me in one more of his bear hugs, “It is so good to see you Pumpkin honestly.” And with those words he turned around and left me standing there with my heart in overdrive and my mind in that old crush induced haze. How will I survive the whole holidays back in town, and hang around with him without falling back in love with him?