i helped michael with his black eye, which was a bit worse then i thought. he also had some bruises littering his sides, stomach and back. i got so angry, how could luke do this? i've tried to call him multiple times, but he just wont answer. he has a constant frown upon his face, his beautiful face. i've made countless lame jokes to try and cheer him up, but he doesn't even crack a smile.
i tilt my head back so its resting on top of the couch. i close my eyes. breathing quietly. i sigh and re open my eyes, lifting my head off the couch. i look at michael, who is looking at his hands.
"hey," i whisper.
"hi," he whispers back.
i chuckle sadly, "how's your eye?"
"its okay, not as sore," he shrugs.
"thats good."
"yeah.."
i go to ask about how the rest of his body is feeling before my phone rings, lukes name on the screen with a picture that we took together on my birthday.
"hello?" i answer.
"calum! oh my god, i'm so fucking sorry, it wasn't my fault, i-i," he doesn't finish since he starts crying.
"hey, hey, luke, its okay," i assure. "what happened?"
"well, these guys approached michael, i-i tried to stop them, b-but they called me a faggot, so i-i, fuck! calum, i'm a dickhead, i punched him in the eye."
"what!?" i ask through clenched teeth. "what the fuck, luke!"
"i'm sorry," he mumbles, barely loud enough for me to hear.
"sorry? fuck, luke, y-you can't just do that!"
"i know! i feel awful!"
"why didn't you answer me before?"
"what?"
"you heard me," i roll my eyes.
"right, um, because i was too scared, i guess, i-i just couldn't bring myself to answer, i knew you probably wanted to know what i had to do with this."
"you can't just hit him because some guys called you a faggot, luke, you should have punched them instead, idiot."
"i-i know, i just, my- shit, my dads home!" he says just before he hangs up.
i look at michael who is examining his hands.
"do your parents know?" i ask.
"what?" he looks up at me.
"that you get bullied?"
he shakes his head, "no, just, i don't think so anyway, it usually just verbal, this is the first time any one has physically hurt me."
"why do they bully you? if you don't mind me asking."
he looks at his hands again.
"i'm gay."
"wait, wait, they have the fucking audacity to beat you up because of your sexual preference?!" i shake my head. "thats fucking wrong."
"i deserve it," he says quietly.
"no one deserves to be treated badly because of their sexuality," i tell him.
"b-but, its not just that."
"then why else do that treat you badly?"
i bites his lip, "i-i like to dress a bit girly."
"really?"
he nods tears forming in his eyes, "i-i'm sorry," he lays his head in his hands.
"for what?"
"everything. you probably don't even like me," he sighs.
"i like you," i say.
he looks at me, his cheeks a bit red.
"what?"
"i, calum hood, like you," i say, failing at a british accent.
he rolls his eyes, "only as a friend."
wait. what?
"what?"
"never mind," he shakes his head. "i'm tired," he yawns.
"you can sleep in my bed," i shrug.
i check the time before he can reply, 6pm. i didn't realise that he has been here for a few hours.
"just tell your mum your staying over, she'll be okay with it."
"i-i don't know, i probably should go home.."
"i'll walk you over there, yeah?"
he giggles, for the first time tonight, "i only live next door, calum."
"yeah, but you might get lost."
he rolls his eyes, "okay."
we get off the couch and walk to the door. i open it so he can go first and i follow behind him at first, soon walking next to him. we arrive at his door, him opening it slightly. before he goes inside, he kisses my cheek, then darts inside.
i stand at his door step, clueless as to why he kissed my cheek.
i soon realise i'm not at my house, i'm standing outside michaels house, at his doorstep. i walk home, my cheek on fire from where his lips touched my skin.
