Close As Strangers

"Six weeks since I went away and now you're saying everything has changed and I'm afraid that I might be losing you.."

Talking on the phone with Michael, it's been almost two months since you've seen him, he normally calls you when he finds time where he's at. You were listening to him telling you about his new tattoo he got to remind him of you.

"Michael, you shouldn't of done that." You told him a somber tone lacing your voice.

"Why? I love you, why wouldn't I get something to remind me of the person I love, who loves me back." He stated, you sigh loudly on the other side of the phone.

"You still love me, right?" Michael sadly asked.

"Yes! Of course I still love you." You quickly defended yourself. Of course you love Michael, but lately everything has been different for you since he left.

"And every night that we spend alone it kills me thinking of you on your own. And I wish I was back home next to you."

After hanging up and saying goodnight, Michael laid awake in his bunk just thinking of how all he wants is to have you in his arms. It's been difficult not sleeping in the same bed as you. It just feels empty without you.

"Oh and every day you feel a little bit further away and I don't know what to say..."

You were talking to Michael while painting your toes, finding yourself accidentally not listening to what he's saying.

"Hello? Are you even there anymore?" He asked through the speaker.

"Oh sorry Mikey! Got a bit distracted. Start over, what did Calum do to Ashton?" You apologized and listened to him telling his story from the road.

"Are we wasting time talking on a broken line. Telling you I haven't seen your face in ages. I feel like we're as close as strangers."

You just hung up the phone with Michael, your call getting disconnected once again. You quickly found yourself looking through a box of pictures you and Michael had collected over the course of your relationship. You looked down at the one in your hand, it was from one of your earlier dates with Michael. You both looked so happy, smiling so big and genuine. It's not like you weren't happy, you just missed him so much, that you weren't sure if you can handle it for much longer.

"Won't give up even though it hurts so much. Every night I'm losing you in a thousand faces. Now it feels we're as close as strangers."

Michael looks out into the crowd while Luke is talking. He has to do a double take when he thinks he sees you in the crowd, only to be disappointed when it wasn't you, because he knew you weren't going to be there. You were at home, too busy with work and school.

"Late nights and another text, is this as good as you're gonna get. Another timezone taking me away from you."

You haven't talked to Michael in a couple days, he was just too busy. You wake up the next morning and sent him a text, forgetting he was on the other side of the world. You received a text shortly from him saying, "Babe it's 3am here. Sorry. Call u later."

You sighed, replying back saying, "Don't worry. It'll probably be late here anyways." You never got a reply back.

"I'm living dreams in fluorescent lights, while you and I are running out of time. But you know that I'll always wait for you."

The guys started to perform Long Way Home, Michael couldn't help but start to think about you, the girl he wrote the song about. He couldn't help but think how lucky he is to be living out his dreams, but it also made him think of how your relationship was starting to slip. He knows that it's not getting any easier on you, and he's not so sure how long his encouraging words are going to be able to keep you to stay.