Mike & Savy Ch. 02

Note to Readers: This is the second chapter of a series and is presented from Savy's point of view. Future chapters will continue alternating between Mike's (odd) and Savy's (even) points of view. The chapters will cover the same time periods and will often cover the same events.

I believe that there is value in presenting both perspectives, with associated feelings and emotions. However, it is very much up to you whether to read all chapters. You may choose to read only Mike's or only Savy's chapters and still understand much of the story.

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I don't remember much about my family. My birth family, I mean, as I was only four when I was adopted. I wish I had even a few memories of them, but I was just too young. There are times when I can close my eyes and maybe, just maybe, dredge up an image in my mind, but I can never really tell if it's true or simply wishful thinking.

What I do remember, quite clearly, is the house that I moved to when I was four. It was beautiful, like one of those southern-style homes you see on television, complete with the perfect wrap-around porch, a beautiful yard, and plenty of woodlands around. That was a special place for me.

Unfortunately, my new parents' relationship wasn't as idyllic as our house. Mom and dad never really fought, not in front of my brother and I, anyway. They also never really spoke or even acknowledged each other. My dad came home late from work virtually every night and by the time he did get home, my mom had taken care of us and sent us off to bed. On weekends, my dad would either go into the office or putter around the garage. I really don't remember them talking openly.

Still, that was almost better than the other times, when they would go to their bedroom and close the door. I don't think children often understand the issues between their parents, but kids aren't immune to the atmosphere, either. When my parents were in there, their voices sometimes rising loud enough to be heard, the house was filled with an almost chilly atmosphere. It was at times like that when my brother gave me the stability that I think every kid craves.

Mike would take me outside and we'd play in the yard. He didn't seem to care what exactly we did. If I wanted to hide behind trees or throw a ball, he was happy. If I wanted to do girly things and play with stuffed animals or pretend to be a princess, he was just as happy.

I think back and he was remarkably resilient for a young boy going through a broken home. Mom absolutely did her best, but a lot of nights, Mike was the one to curl up on the beanbag in my room and read to me, before whispering "Goodnight, Savy."

I was six when my parents divorced.

Mom, Mike and I moved to a smaller house, staying on the Eastern Shore in Salisbury. It was still a very nice place, but as my third home in two years, it wasn't easy on me.

Things did get better, though. My mom was incredible. I know she worked hard to provide for us and while weren't rich by any means, Mike and I never had to worry about food on the table or clean clothes for school. That's a lot more than many kids in our situation could say, especially since we never saw dad and had no contact other than a card every once in awhile.

More than anything, I wanted to make both my mom and my brother proud. Nothing made me happier than bringing home a test or assignment with a bright red 'A' on the front and one or both of them beaming back at me and hugging me. I can't thank them enough for that, because it helped me become driven at school.

I eventually picked up the violin too, after seeing a concert on TV and thinking how beautiful the lead violinist was in her gown, with the entire crowd watching her in complete adulation. By the time I was in 5th grade, I was regularly performing solos at school performances, which of course made mom and Mike so happy. I actually even skipped 4th grade, though because I'd started school a year later than most kids due to my adoption, it just put me at about where I should have been for my age.

Even when things weren't great, we figured out how to get through them. Both Mike and I were small for our ages, though I know it was even rougher on him, because boys can be so cruel to anyone that doesn't fit their expectations and the smallest are the target of their immature ire. Even after he picked up wrestling in middle school, he was bullied quite a bit by the larger football and basketball players. When that happened, I always tried to be at the door when he got home from school, with a smile on my face.

He told me he could never be in a bad mood if I was smiling for him.

I had to deal with my own bouts of being bullied, as there weren't many kids at my school that looked like me. Being so short and skinny, wearing glasses too, made me an easy target. Fortunately, I had two friends that I'd gone to school with for as long as I could remember, Mandy and Aly, as well as Mike to make sure I always had a friendly face and comforting hug nearby.

When Mike got later into high school, I knew he was so busy trying to get into competitive programs at Maryland. Combined with wrestling and hanging out with his high school friends, I saw him a lot less than I used to or would have preferred. He always made time for me on Sundays, though, making sure we watched a baseball game together, either on TV or going to the park to see the Shorebirds play, or just had a nice picnic out in the yard.

How many girls can say that they had an older brother who would make that effort for them? Even then, I knew how lucky I was to have Mike in my life.

When Mike was a senior, he had his first somewhat serious girlfriend. She was cute and always friendly towards me, so even though it meant that I didn't have him to spend time with on Friday or Saturday night, I understood why.

I wish I could have spent more time with Mike during the summer before he went to college. Between work, his girlfriend, and all that goes with preparing for college, he just didn't have the time. The day he left for school, mom asked if I wanted to go with her to drop him off, but I said no. I gave Mike a hug at the car and wished him luck, but then went back inside. I was still crying in my room when my mom got home hours later. My best friend wasn't at home anymore.

Mike made sure he didn't forget me, though. Every night when I got home from school and whatever practice or extracurricular activity I had, there was an instant message waiting for me from him. He'd ask me about school and violin, what I was doing with my friends, if any boys had noticed me. There he was, at college and surrounded by all kinds of new people and experiences, but every night, he always found the time to send me at least one message, telling me he missed me and was proud of me.

High school was both easy and hard for me. On the one hand, I had absolutely no problems handling the work and my grades were always at the top of my class. On the other hand, outside of Mandy and Aly, I really didn't make any other friends.

I've always been a bit nervous around new people. I like comfortable things, things that I know. Boys weren't interested in me at all, even though there were a few that I certainly crushed on, and the girls, especially the popular ones, weren't any better. It always seemed like a new person noticing me was invariably followed by taunts and insults. It didn't help that even in high school, I was the same short, skinny, ungainly girl... and suddenly I had braces, too. Even then, Mike would come home for a holiday or school break and he'd always tell me I had a smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts. When he said that, I couldn't help grinning from ear to ear at him.

I know it's somewhat common now, but I'll admit that I was embarrassed that I went to my senior prom with Mandy and Aly. I mean, it's your prom. You're supposed to have your first kiss, or more likely for a lot of girls lose their virginity, with some cute boy who means the world to you at the time, but you'll probably forget in a few years.

I kind of understand why I didn't have a date. I was still on the short side, but I'd gotten my braces off and had started wearing contacts, plus I wasn't quite as gawky as before. Mom had said that with my shimmering red dress and long dark hair, I was gorgeous and even looked like a true Terp. She's also my mom and has to say that. The three of us did have a great time, but it's just not the same when the slow songs come on and you and your friends sit chatting awkwardly around a table, sad little punch cups in hand.

A month after prom, I graduated. I was my school's valedictorian, thanks to a perfect record through even my advanced placement classes. More importantly, I'd been accepted to the University of Maryland to study biology! Mike had graduated, but because he'd be doing his master's degree there and working at the nearby NASA campus in Greenbelt, we'd be living close to each other again. I couldn't wait.

Sometimes you don't even know how much you really want something and then when it's right there and you know it's going to happen, there's a weight that comes off of your shoulders. It can sneak up on you and absolutely shock you when it happens.

Two weeks after graduation, Mike finally texted me to tell me that he'd be home the next night. I was almost irrationally giddy and I barely slept the night before, because I hadn't seen him in six months. The day he was due home, I helped mom clean up the house and made sure his room was in good comfortable shape for him.

At about 6pm, I settled onto the sofa and waited for Mike. Unfortunately, after not having slept much the night before and then bustling around the house all day, I was wiped. I don't know when I fell asleep.

The next thing I knew, I felt a hand swat me on my thigh. I popped my head out from under the blanket I'd curled up under and it was Mike!

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I thought you were..."

Does he not even recognize me?

"Mike!"

"Savy?"

Mike leaned over and turned on the lamp and looked back at me. I immediately launched myself against him and wrapped my arms around him.

"I missed you, Mike."

He stammered a bit, maybe I was squeezing too tightly, "I... I... I missed you, too."

I hugged him for as long as I could, until I felt him sit back a little. Mike's eyes drifted down and it looked like he was shocked at just how long my hair had gotten. It had been pretty long for as long as I could remember, but now it was almost to my waist.

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow; Mike was taking his time getting his eyes back up to meet mine. I knew that I'd filled out quite a bit the last six months. Some girls hit their growth spurt a little later and mine just happened to be in the spring of my senior year. I was wearing a comfortable pair of loose yoga pants and a relatively short tank top, so I knew he could see just how I'd developed. I'd added a few inches, though still only stood barely 5', and weight to the appropriate places on my previously lanky frame. It may have been weird, but it felt nice as I wasn't used to having guys let their eyes wander on me.

By the time he did get around to lifting his eyes back up to mine, I couldn't help having the biggest smile ever.

I don't know how long we talked for, but the next morning I woke up on the sofa, next to Mike, with my arm wrapped inside of his and my head resting on his shoulder. Mom was offering coffee and breakfast, which after a night sleeping sitting upright on the sofa, he looked like he needed.

I tried to find stuff to keep me busy that day. I knew that mom needed time with her boy too. It wasn't easy, though.

Mike looked good. He was so much taller than me and had kept his lean wrestling form. He'd also let his hair grow quite a bit and it was very cute in its unruliness. Of course, he had the same gorgeous eyes, which melted from blue to green and had gold flecks that sparkled.

After mom had her chance to catch up, he was mine. Over the next few days, we set about doing some of the heavier chores around the house that mom and I couldn't do by ourselves. I was more handing Mike tools and generally assisting him than doing any heavy lifting, but I don't think either of us minded. It was a lot like summers before he went to college.

The best were the days when we had nothing to do. We would often go to games at the minor league stadium or drive over to Ocean City to walk on the boardwalk. One day, I woke up and Mike wasn't inside. I walked out on the back deck and immediately brought my hands to my mouth to try and cover my giggle and smile. Mike had pulled all of my old stuffed animals out of the attic and lined them up in their old parade formation in the yard.

Mike grinned at me and said, "I told you we'd always be okay, right?"

I ran to him and bear hugged him. We spent the afternoon outside. He grilled and we talked and enjoyed the weather and being together. I left my toys lined up like that the entire day and every time I glanced at them, I almost cried from smiling. I don't think he even knew just how much it meant to me. He just did it because it would make me smile and didn't even give it a second thought.

I think that there are often difficult times in your life when you feel like you can't make it and absolutely nothing is going right. If you have just one moment to hold onto, it's all survivable, though. Every moment I've had since that day, when everything was wrong, I would close my eyes and see the yard and my toys in their little parade, then look up and see Mike smiling at me. I knew I'd always be okay because of him.

Five weeks wasn't nearly long enough for me. No matter how much we talked, there was always more to say, more to learn about the experiences that he had had. It simply wasn't enough time; we needed more time.

The day Mike packed his car, I was a wreck. I couldn't sleep the night before and being unable to sleep from sadness is so much worse than being so excited that you can't sleep. I just laid in bed crying, not even really knowing why. I knew I'd miss him, but it just felt so much stronger than that, different even.

I couldn't really talk to either Mike or mom all day. I knew that if I did, I'd end up crying and I didn't want either of them to see that. It didn't seem rational. When Mike was just about ready to leave, I went out to say goodbye.

Mike turned to me and I almost collapsed into his arms. When he held me tight, it felt so comfortable and right. To this day, I don't even know how to describe that feeling. It was just right... and beyond anything that it should have been. Finally, we let go and he looked down to see that I was crying.

"Oh Savy, you know I'm gonna miss you, right?"

I choked as I tried to respond.

"And I'll be online every night to IM with you."

"I know."

"I couldn't have asked for a better trip home."

I looked up at him, into those gorgeous eyes, the gold shining in the sun. I reached up and pulled down on his shoulder, so that I could reach, and kissed him on the cheek.

I didn't look at him again before I ran inside and threw myself onto my bed. I tried to will myself to not sob uncontrollably, but I wasn't very successful. After those weeks we'd spent together, I just wanted one more day. But I knew that after that day, I'd still want one more, then one more, then one more...

The rest of the summer was, I think, the slowest time of my life. I should have been excited, since I was about to start college with my dream major. I was going to be moving so close to Mike too and it was just a short time away!

It just felt like forever...

True to his word, Mike messaged me every night. I just couldn't bring myself to talk to him and I couldn't even figure out why. What if he was so busy with his internship and master's that, even after I moved there, I never got to see him? The fear was eating me alive. I think I packed, unpacked, and repacked everything I was taking with me to college about two dozen times.

Finally... finally the day had come.

I knew I was going to miss mom and she would be alone in the house. She hadn't dated since dad left all those years ago. She just worked and took care of us, the best she could. She did a damn good job, too.

Maybe other kids had two parents and the perfect "Leave It To Beaver" life, but we had mom and she was ten times the parent of anyone else. I promised her that I'd be back every holiday and she could come and visit both of us. Maybe we could tour DC a little bit, see museums and monuments with her.

I got one heck of a workout loading my stuff into mom's car, I was moving so fast. I'm kind of surprised I could even lift some of those bags as big as they were, but I guess I was on a mission. Before long, I was looking over my shoulder as the Bay Bridge receded from sight. I'd miss the Eastern Shore; it was my home and a very important part of me.

We got off the Beltway and made our way to campus. As mom pulled up in front of my new dorm, I saw Mike standing there. He looked so relaxed, with his hair blowing in his eyes and a huge smile on his face. I don't think mom had even come to a stop before I was out the door. I plowed into Mike and knocked him down before sitting on him.

"Hi!" I practically squealed.

He just stared at me for a second and finally kind of whispered, "Hey there!"

Mike got to his feet, dragging me up into his arms and holding me to him. Just as before, everything was just... right. After a minute, we broke and he started grabbing all of my bags to take up. He wouldn't let mom or I carry a thing.

I was pulling some basics out of my bags to put on my desk and shelves when I saw mom pull Mike into the hallway. I couldn't help but eavesdrop.

"Mike, keep an eye on her. You know that she's always been focused on school, violin, her girlfriends. She doesn't know what these college guys are like and they're not all as sweet as you."

"You know I will mom. Any guy that wants a shot at her has to get my approval first and I'm very difficult to please."

I smiled to myself. I liked the idea of him looking out for me, taking care of me.

Mike and mom came back inside and we both hugged her. She told us how proud of us she was and how much she already missed us. We walked her down to her car and then she was heading home.

Thanks for everything you did for me, for us, mom.

When we got back up to my room, Mike asked, "Is there anything else you need? I'm gonna head back to my place so you can get to know your roommate."

I hadn't even thought about my roommate, who hadn't showed up yet. We had emailed a little bit over the summer, but we weren't exactly friends yet. She seemed like she'd be in the dorm for one year, then join a sorority. She had a boyfriend from high school who was also going to Maryland, but she was already talking about finding a big hunky frat guy for each of us, not that I wanted one.

"You are? I don't think so. I only got a month with you this summer. We're hanging out tonight. Besides, I haven't seen your apartment," I replied.

"Hey, it's your first night away from home. You don't want to hang out here and meet new people?"

"I've had the same best friends since elementary school and you've always known I like things I already know. Let's get takeout, a movie, and just take it easy tonight."

Mike looked me straight in the eyes and shrugged his shoulders, but then his voice was unexpectedly cheerful.

"Whatever makes you happy."

After we locked up my room, we got into Mike's car and drove over to his apartment, which was only about 10 minutes from campus. It might even be walkable, though the area around Maryland wasn't the greatest neighborhood.

When we got to his place, he opened the door, and I had to stifle a chuckle.