Status: Finished! (8/12-10/5)

Counting Stars

Twenty Six

Mike’s POV- August 2014
I walked around the airport and I finally spotted Jake. He was standing next to a brunette who was looking down at her phone.

“Are you sure they told you here?”

He nodded at her and glanced at her.

“Yes, Mike is coming to get me”

She hummed.

“Why couldn’t Marisol come?”

Jake didn’t respond because he spotted me and nudged her. She looked up and I gave her a small smile.

“Sorry for taking long but I had to make sure my bags were heading to the right destination” I told them.

Jake nodded and looked at me. I looked at the girl and saw some resemblance Marisol and he shared. For one Marisol was more filled in.

“My sister Tessa”

I nodded and shook her hand.

“Mike” I told her.

She nodded and looked at me as she still held my hand.

“Marisol hooked a nice guy”

I ignored that comment and looked at Jake.

“Are you ready?” I asked him as I let go of her hand.

“Yea, I just need to go through security”

I nodded and Tessa looked at me.

“Why couldn’t Marisol come?”

“She’s in Chicago dealing with some work related stuff, I offered since I was traveling” I told them.

She nodded.

“So you came?”

“Yea, I don’t mind” I told her.

She nodded.

“Why’s she in Chicago?”

“The band she manages is on tour and they are in Chicago” told her.

She nodded slowly.

“I see”

I hummed and looked at the time.

“Well we have to go, it was nice meeting you Tessa” I told her.

She nodded and smiled.

“Take care of my sister?”

I nodded.

“You don’t even have to ask” I told her.

“And my brothers”

I nodded and she hugged Jake. She told him something in Spanish and he nodded at her.

“See you in a few weeks Jake. Get better.”

He nodded and she kissed his forehead. I gave her a smile and we began walking to security.

“You’re talking with Tessa again?” I asked.

He nodded and bit his lips.

“Yea”

I nodded and dropped it.

“So when does Marisol get in?”

“Well it is just you and me as well as the dogs for tonight and tomorrow” I told him.

He nodded and I grabbed his carry on when I noticed the light limp he had.

“How’s the heat in LA?”

“I heard it’s pretty good, it’s supposed to get warmer though” I told him.

He nodded.

“Good, I need a tan”

I laughed and looked at his knee. He didn’t have a brace on.

“Where’s your brace?” I asked him.

“I had to take it off, I’m putting it on when we get through security”

I nodded.

“How’s the leg feeling?” I asked him.

“It hurts like a bitch”

“I bet, I saw the X-rays” I told him.

He nodded and I looked at him.

“That’s quite a growth spurt you’ve had” I told him.

He was a little taller than me now. He laughed and nodded.

“Yea, everyone keeps saying that”

“Your voice even got a little deeper” I told him.

He laughed and we got through security. I helped him into his brace and he moved his knee.

“So, Marisol said you had something to tell me?”

Of course Marisol would tell him that and then make me tell him.

“Yes” I told him.

We sat down and he moved his head making his neck crack. He leaned back and looked down at his phone then at me.

“Go on”

“We’re getting married this month” I told him not bothering to go in.

He looked at me and raised an eyebrow.

“So soon?”

“Yes” I told him.

He shrugged.

“It is Marisol”

He looked at me.

“When?”

“The 13th” I told him.

He nodded.

“Damn that’s close”

“So we are thankful you are coming to LA” I told him.

He laughed.

“Might as well use my time there wisely”

I nodded and he yawned.

“Your room is set up and all” I told him.

“Good, I am exhausted”

We talked for a bit and my phone vibrated. It was a text from Jonathan Toews. It was a picture of three plates. I recognized Marisol’s hand very well considering it was her left hand.

“Apparently Marisol was with Jonny” I mumbled.

“Jonny?”

“Toews” I told him.

His eyes widened and I chuckled a bit.

“I am allowed to get star struck ok? I will when I meet Clayton Kershaw”

I laughed and nodded as I clicked my fingers.

“You and her are going to a game when she gets back. That day, she told me to tell you” I told him.

He smiled and nodded.

“Cool”

I nodded and looked down at the text.

“He met Erica” I mumbled as I began typing.

“Who’s Erica?”

I looked at Jake.

“Erica? Jason’s Erica, you should know who Erica is” I said.

“Oh really, she was really pretty back then I bet she’s still pretty”

I nodded and he looked at me.

“I thought Jonathan Toews only dated whore looking girls?”

“Maybe he’s getting ready to settle down?” I joked with him.

He laughed and shrugged.

“Maybe”

I looked at him and he shrugged.

“Hey if a girl like that was interested in me I’d jump right in”

I laughed.

“Erica is a smart girl” I told him.

He shrugged.

“She was when I was around. I bet she’s even smarter now”

I nodded and looked at him.

“How….how involved were you with them?” I asked.

He looked at me.

“Not much, Marisol and Isaac were usually at Nana’s”

“Why?” I asked.

He looked at me.

“My dad didn’t want them around”

“But why?” I asked.

“Really Mike? You know the answer. Marisol looks like her”

I nodded slowly.

“Marisol and dad were really close, but when she found out he had cheated on her mom. She didn’t want to be near him and daddy changed to dad. The only time she talked to him was because she needed guardian signatures, dinner was awkward”

“So you never saw them close?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“No, she was always with Isaac. He never really referred to them by their names. They were always the twins in the household”

I nodded and he looked down at the floor.

“He really didn’t like the idea of them playing sports either. He didn’t pay for their equipment so they would sell lemonade, cupcakes, chocolates, and anything that Nana would make for them. My mom paid for some of the things as well. She helped out in what she could”

I looked at him.

“My mom didn’t hide that acceptance letters or tell the scouts they had chosen a school”

“Your dad did” I finished.

He nodded and looked at me.

“Why though?” I asked.

We both looked up when our flight number was called. We stood up and walked over to get in line.

“Mike”

I looked at him.

“Don’t tell them”

I nodded.

“Promise”

I nodded slowly.

“I promise” I told him.

He nodded and let out a deep breath. What kind of dad would do that?
♠ ♠ ♠
Two in a day since I haven't posted in a bit. This heat wave is slowly killing me. My room is so hot and i'm pretty sure i took 3 showers today. My poor pit bull who is afraid of water btw actually let me give her a bath today. That's how hot it is here in LA, my dog who hates water and baths let me give her a bath.