no one has to know || muke

fourty

michael was trying to be okay. he was trying to forget, but forgetting was much harder than he thought it would be.

it was like luke engraved himself into michael's head because no matter what the eighteen year old did, all he could think about was luke. he was on his mind from when he first wakes up until he goes to sleep at night. he truly missed the older man, but he could never get over what he did to him. luke still tried calling michael nearly every day, but he never answered.

the worst part was that michael still had to see the blonde everyday. he was still luke's student, there was nothing he could do about that. he always avoided to even make eye contact with him, and was class was over he nearly sprinted out of the room so luke wouldn't get the chance to say anything. it was nearly impossible not to think about luke when he sees him all of the time.

now here he was, two months later, sitting along his fellow students in his cap and gown on graduating day as the valedictorian is giving a speech up on the stage. mike has been waiting for this day for as long as he could remember. it wasn't up until recently when he decided where he wanted to go to college for the next four years. it was a ridiculously hard choice for him.

michael's eyes scan around the room. there are many people packed into the not so big gym. his eyes briefly met with luke's who stood over on the sideline with the other teachers. the blonde flashed a small smile, but mike quickly looked away.

the ceremony went by quickly. there weren't too many kids in michael's graduating class. he was actually quite glad it didn't last long. all he wanted to do was get out of this school and never have to see it again.

once it was all over, the room began to grow crowded from everyone trying to find their family and friends. mike couldn't seem to find his mum and her fiancé. he squeezes his way around, but there was no sign of them. he looked for awhile longer and finally he felt a tap on his shoulder, but it wasn't who he thought it would be.

"i just wanted to say congratulations," an all to familiar voice says. just hearing the older man talk made so many old emotions come flooding back, "i know how long you have been waiting for this."

michael just nods, forcing a smile on his thin lips. he hates that after what luke did to him, he still had a huge effect on the dark haired boy. it made him furious with himself. he wanted to be stronger, but luke had something about him that would always make michael weak in the knees.

luke can sense that michael didn't want to to talk to him. who could blame him? he had to talk to the boy. now that he has graduated, he didn't know when the next time he would be seeing michael was. he didn't like the thought of that.

"you have to know how sorry i am," luke says quietly so no one could here him, but loud enough so that michael heard.

"i know," mike briefly responds.

luke licks over his dry lips, "it was the biggest mistake i have ever made."

"i know."

"i still love you."

"i know."

luke takes a shaky breath. no matter how much he wanted michael to be his again, he knew there would never be a chance. he knew he had to let go, but he was finding it unbelievably hard to. he didn't ever think an eighteen year old could make him feel the way he did for michael. at this moment, he didn't think he was ever going to find someone he loved like that again.

"do you have any plans on what you are going to do after the summer?" luke tries to make small talk as best as he can.

"i'm going to ucla," michael informs, avoiding eye contact with the taller man.

"ucla?" luke pauses for a moment, his his eyebrows scrunching together, "as in california? as in you're going to california?"

luke could have collapsed right there when michael nodded. he couldn't believe michael was going to be on the other side of the world. was this the last time the two would be seeing each other? he couldn't bare the thought of that.

"that's great, mike," luke says, his voice sounding distraught, "i'm proud of you."

no matter how badly luke wanted to beg michael not to go, he knew it was no longer his place to. they weren't together anymore, which meant luke wasn't able to have an opinion on this. he was driving the love of his life away.

before either of them had the chance to say anything else, michael's mum showed up. luke put a fake smile on his face, trying his best to make it look like he wasn't hurting.

"michael, there you are," she exclaims, pulling her son in for big hug, "are you ready to get out of here? we gotta start packing."

yes, michael was moving to california right away. his mum and elliot were staying with michael for the summer there, then once classes start they are leaving. it was mike's idea. he wanted to leave as soon as he possibly could. he wasn't planning on letting luke know because he didn't want to see how he would react. he truthfully didn't deserve to know.

"how soon are you leaving?" luke questions, his lips pursed.

"tomorrow morning," mike's mum responds with a wide smile.

"oh," is all luke can choke out.

he really is proud of michael for working so hard. maybe this was for the best. maybe it's what they both needed to fully get over each other. sure they would always be thankful for the time they spent together, but they had to move on somehow. it is going to hurt like hell. mike knows he needs this. he can't continue being around luke. it only made things harder for him.

michael's mum speaks up once no one else said anything, "well, we should get going. we have a lot to get done."

mike nods in agreement. he takes one last look at luke. he can remember the first time he looked at him as more than just a teacher. it was the best thing that he has ever done, but luke has hurt him and he can't look at him the same anymore.

"bye, luke."

luke can feel himself getting choked up. this was a real goodbye. not a 'see you later', not a 'see you soon'. goodbyes are the worst.

"bye, mikey."

+ + +

have i finally posted another chapter??? are you all surprised??

this is the last chapter for this story. i just want to say i appreciate everyone who has read this and commented/voted. this story took me a LONG time to complete, but i couldn't be happier with it :-)))))

i may be adding a few epilogue chapters, but it's gonna take some time before they are posted