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saint ╚═════════════.✾. ═╝
MICHAEL ARRIVED TO Angie's apartment to look up to the 'could be worse' place that she barely described it to be. He never expected himself to actually come close to it let alone see it. Under the circumstances though he did have to persuade Angie already to let him drive the two of them up to the airport. That in itself took too long of convincing but— that was Angie.
Alya came down instead to his surprise and lifted up some of the bags in her hands to which he immediately helped instead. "Don't know why she doesn't like you, you're such a gentleman," She told him, hearing the sarcasm over the coined phrase by the tone of voice she gave.
He partly wondered if Angie ever told her anything that went on between them or if it was simply their own secret. Then again, Michael didn't think she was the one to delve on what went around her daily life. Especially when it came to having to deal with him. "I do try," He only responded and looked past her in the hopes of catching a glimpse of Angie already, "Where's my angel anyways?"
She waved a hand off in the general direction of the apartment building. "She's on a call with Ryan. Didn't seem too thrilled to have to tell him over a FaceTime that they weren't gonna see each other a little longer." Hearing this made him now guilty over the fact he was technically keeping her from her personal life. Not realizing he'd been so selfish in doing so, it was a little too late to back out of it completely. "You alright?"
Alya tilted her head in concern to have him only shake his head. "Sorry, got lost for a minute." Moving towards the building, she caught him off guard by taking his hand. "I was gonna just say hi to the guy."
"Now that's why Angie likes you so much." Realizing this was an insult, she pouted towards him determined to keep Michael down here as opposed to starting some unnecessary assumptions to be made. Any person could be jealous of their significant other being surrounded by celebrities constantly and as much as Alya knew of Ryan's gentle nature, that didn't mean he was an exception to the rule. If she were in his position, she'd be more than jealous.
Michael, oblivious to this, still persisted up to the apartment. Alya continued to rush after him as he turned the corner to the door still left unlocked. Looking around the living room slightly determined, he fixed his glasses in an attempt to get his bearings again. "Michael you're acting like a child!" Alya called behind him as he gestured his hands out to the place.
"I'm just saying hi. Y'know I'd want to know my fiancé is in good hands personally," He explained to have her roll her eyes over the excuse. Still, he followed the slightly audible sounds from another room as Amber gave up on stopping him. Judging by how determined he was it was practically hopeless at this point.
"Babysitting Michael isn't exactly what I'd hoped my first trip to New York being, but I think I'll live with it."
"Thought you weren't too keen on his attitude?"
"No, Michael is—" He paused from entering the room as he heard Angie's voice behind the door. To give the excuse of this being his usual antics with her, he also wanted to see this fiancé for himself. Photos on a screen were one thing and a FaceTime call was his next bet. "He's a good guy. I give him a hard time I think even when I shouldn't, but he needs it y'know? Makes him feel a little normal even though he hardly has the time to pencil it in. I know, I run his schedule."
Alya watched him sink in his confidence behind the door, slightly relieved he didn't go in. The effect of whatever he heard was ever present in the way he slowly lowered his shoulders and turned his gaze down towards the floor. Michael lingered by the door still to hear the response to follow from Ryan himself. "It's funny how much heart you have. Even despite your slightly abrupt nature, you were always like that even you were younger."
"It's 'cause I act like I'm older than even you." His heart sunk at the returned laughter from the two to have Michael simply press his back against the wall. Realizing by his stance that the playful back and forth wasn't all that it seemed to be, Alya pitied him for catching himself around Angie in the first place. She didn't know the half of what was going on his head, but his look alone showed it wasn't all that easy to deal with.
"She really does love him," Alya continued and folded her arms as he raised his head towards her, "He works well with the side of her that you like so much. It's a partnership."
The way she said this made Michael realize how apparent his own feelings had been as he quickly shook off the accusation. He saw Angie as nothing more than just a girl in his life he— well, he cared to see succeed and to have him at least be a friend to join along to see her grow too. "So Angie isn't always so hard-edged?"
"Oh no, she's also had a tendency to judge people too harshly; even in college. I could only imagine high school when she met Ryan." Alya laughed over the image of her friend in high school. Picturing her attitude in that sort of setting would've been traumatizing for teachers to say the least. "But she's slowly getting over it. It comes with age."
He smiled over the image too, Angie now opening up the door to find her friend and Michael speaking outside. Noticing her turn red in embarrassment she tried to quickly clear her throat while Michael smiled over her struggle. "Angel."
"Pretty Boy," She returned, adjusting the strap on her bag, "I'll see you when I get back, Alya?"
Exchanging in an embrace she then turned up to Michael with a nod in understanding. Not knowing what to do with himself after this he managed to drive them to LAX, though in a completely silent manner. The drive itself was already length with traffic but the air between made not only Michael feel uneasy but Angie as well. "How's your husband?"
Smiling over him always purposefully saying this incorrectly, Angie nodded along to avoid correcting him. "He took the New York trip surprisingly well." Michael had a half-smile in regards to this as she now turned to him interested. Being used to him at this point she figured he must've heard something she said to Ryan. Judging by his failing lack of confidence, it was out of what she had said. "You're complicated."
"Who? Me? Whatever made you think that," He returned to only receive a look out of her, "You're an enigma."
"Well now, hey. I think those two complement each other just fine," Angie said to slightly raise both their spirits, lifting the tension that was going on between them more than usual. "How dramatic do you think I am though? Enigma?"
Michael laughed over the comment to shake his head. "You just—" He looked down to the girl continuing to roll out her bags to be carried out with them on their trip. Tucking away a piece of her hair, she looked up to him expectantly to have him lost on what he was trying to say. The smile Angie gave him only seemed to make it worse as he struggled to find his train of thought. "You interest me."
It was a rather mutual interest really. Angie understood the trope Michael had made unto himself without him, she thought, ever accounting for it. Move up to LA, land a role, become a star— was quite literally every basic Hollywood film star's motive dating back to the beginning of the talkies? She didn't understand how he could so seamlessly fall into both categories of a stereotype and hopeless mess all at the same time. Though she'd never be the one to admit to the subject as easily as he could.
"And you annoy me." Michael rolled his eyes as Angie playfully pushed his arm. "Which also complement each other just fine."
