A Deep Breath....(open, kinda)

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru gave a slightly watery smile and stood, slinging her arms around his neck. "Thank you," she said into his chest. "It's good to have you as a friend." She hugged him tight, though it was more of a sister/brother hug than a lovers' hug.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael was surprised that she hugged him, but soon returned the hug, though he didn't allow himself the luxury of pulling her close to him. After a few moments he pulled away and smiled at her. "I can say the same for you." He took his arms from her and bit his lip, a question burning in his mind.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru looked up at him and cocked her head to the side. "What is it?" she asked, they had just went over nearly a month's worth of their lives and she had silently forgiven him for what he had done, what else could he want to ask?

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael took a deep breath, "Do you forgive me?" he asked, looking up at her through a curtain of his hair.

[Druscilla Grace]

Thinking that she forgave him, and speaking the words, proved to be two completely different ventures. Once she finally got her mouth to work, the words started out slightly raspy. "Of course I forgive you." She looked into his eyes as she spoke.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael gave a relieved sigh and smiled. "Thank you," he said, it was like a brick had been lifted from his chest and he felt he could finally, truly, move on with his life. His thoughts roamed to Anna and he smiled broadly.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru smiled, "So do you really like Annabelle?" she asked, wanting to catch up. She wanted him to be happy, to see him talking about something that made him happy.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael sighed and smiled, hands in his pockets again. "Yeah, she's really amazing. She.." he looked up at Dru, "She makes me smile. I don't have to worry around her, she knows where I come from, how I grew up. I don't feel like I have to hide anything." The look he gave Dru was slightly apologetic, he had hidden quite a bit from her.

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru smiled at him and nodded, silently saying that it was ok. "So how did you find out about me and Chase?" she asked, biting her lip.

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

"Other than the fact nearly the whole school's talking about it?" he asked. "Storm told me," he paused, wondering if he should tell her. He ran a hand through his hair. "You know, she's jealous of you, she wants him," he said, wondering how Dru would take it. "She says she really cares for him."

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru sighed, "Well, if she wants him, she's going to have to fight me for him, I'm not giving him up." She stuck her chin up slightly, clenching her jaw for a second, subconsciously trying to show that she was strong. "It was hard to get him as a boyfriend."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Dru's posture brought a smile to Michael's face, "I wouldn't expect any less from you. Just know she'll probably fight just as hard as you will. I imagine though, that since you're the one he chose to begin with, he'll stay with you. He'd be crazy not to."

[Druscilla Grace]

Dru opened her mouth to speak, but looked back down, unsure of how to react to his words. She decided to blow it off with a smile, "Yeah, if he doesn't I'll have to send a good jinx his way."

[Michael Blackwood-Hardt]

Michael laughed lightly, "Yeah, I could see you doing that. Should I pass on the message?" he asked, a smile on his face, every now and again he saw Michael in the common room, on the rare occasion Michael had to be in there.

[Druscilla Grace]

"I imagine he's got a pretty good idea of what I'd do," Dru said, laughing with him. She really hoped he wouldn't leave her, he already meant a lot to her.