Souvenir [Complete]

Forty-one. The Keepsake

Luke was over at Michael's house in seconds. "C'mon, get ready we're following them."

Michael who was getting ready for work, stopped to take in his best friend. "What?"

"Get in your car. We're following them. If we drive fast enough we can catch them."

Michael's eyes widened. "But the kids."

"I left a note and the hotel keycard for my mom," Luke urged. "C'mon. Ditch the apron we have to go."

"What's gotten into you?" Michael huffed taking off his apron and untucking his shirt.

"He told me he loved me before he left, and I've watched too many tv shows to know not to trust that." Luke hummed.

"Jesus Christ, Luke..." Michael rolled his eyes. "Thats it?"

"Well I have a bad feeling about it. And I don't want him to get killed or something, and I'm sure you don't want Calum to either. We're wasting time..." Luke huffed.

Michael took a second then grabbed his keys. "Okay fine...you're lucky I just got gas."

Luke grinned and the two were on the road in no time.

"They're gonna notice us," Michael told him as they sped up to catch Ashton's car. "And when they do they're just gonna tell us to go home."

"I know, but we're not gonna do that. Keep like three-cars between us and them, that way they won't see us. I'll watch Ashton you just make sure you drive safely."

"God, this is a bad idea..." Michael groaned and followed.

"Well if I had a car, I'd do it." Luke huffed.

"I didn't say anything." Michael bit his lip. "But what are we gonna do while they're taking care of the Russians? Sit back and twiddle our thumbs?"

"No I'm gonna hide and try to follow them that way."

"Luke, you're my best friend, but we are not spies," Michael said gently. "And no amount of Alias is gonna change that."

"Oh, shut up, it's not about that it's about making sure they're safe," Luke whimpered. "You're not worried about Calum?"

"Yeah, I'm wondering why he even has to go in the first place."

"Well, he's a good friend to Ashton. He's probably giving him moral support."

"Well I hope your boyfriend doesn't get mine killed."

"He won't."

"I'll miss him too much. And I'll never ever forgive him."

"I know," Luke hummed. "There's a lot on the line here. But he's still my boyfriend, and I would be here even if it was by myself in my own car."

"Well if you were here on your birthday they would have got you one," Michael pointed out.

"They said that? They were really going to?"

"Yeah they mentioned it. But only if you were going to school and still living at home."

"Lemme guess, those were my dad's rules."

Michael nodded.

"Well fuck that. I'm saving my money. I'm buying my own car—whenever I want, and I'm gonna have a dream life. Not dependent nor subordinate to anyone in my life. I'll live where I want to live, and I'll be who I want to be."

"And if that where just happens to include Ashton it's perfectly okay with you right?"

"Well, yeah..." Luke whined. "But because I choose to. Just like he told me not to follow and I did."