Redesigned > cake au [complete.]

12

a/n: I got a really awkward hug from this guy in my Art class today and this chapter reminded me of it for some reason .-. TomorroW my band is performing at the Tribeca Film Fair which is a huge deal so I'm kind of freaking out!!!!!!! omg ok hope you like this update bye xx

"So guess what?" was what I was greeted with, three mornings later, along with a giant smile.

"What?" I asked flatly, not really in the mood to hear all about Michael and Calum's love life. I had had so many thoughts to deal with over the past three days, and I had come to the bitter realisation that Calum meant way more to me than I had originally thought.

"He asked me to be his boyfriend!" Calum all but squealed, nearly walking into a fire hydrant.

"Took him long enough," I sighed. "I'm happy for you, man." I patted him on the back half-heartedly, focusing on the ads in front of the subway station.

"What's wrong Lukey?" he asked me, but I just shook my head.

"Nothing. It's been a long- I didn't sleep well last night. Don't worry."

The ride to school was a quiet - and awkward - one. We barely said anything to one another, and I knew why. I knew all he would talk about was Michael, and I couldn't deal with that. It was all too foreign, and I knew what was happening to me. I was doing the one thing I knew I should never do, and that was fall for my best friend. "It's probably just a phase," I told myself without much conviction. "I'm not into guys anyways, much less Calum."

The minute we stepped into the school lobby, Calum ditched me to go find Michael, so I was left to go to my locker and then locate Ashton on my own.

Ashton, as usual, was sitting on one of the cafeteria windowsills, reading a book while listening to music. I walked up to him, throwing my bag at our feet before hoisting myself up and sitting beside him.

He pulled the headphones out of his ears, smiling at me. "Hey man, what's up?" he asked, shoving them into the pocket of his denim jacket.

"I need to tell you something," I sighed, fiddling with my hands. I knew I had to do it, I needed someone to talk to, but to say I was petrified would be an understatement. "And I'm- I don't know how to do it."

Ashton, as always, was nothing but encouraging. "It's fine, take all the time you need," Ashton smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

I slumped forward, running my hands over my face and through my hair. "I- I think- I like someone. And he's a guy."

Ashton frowned, appearing confused. "Okay, and?"

I moved away, staring at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean, and?" I asked, my internal freak out coming to the light. "I've never liked someone as much as I like him, and he's a guy. I've never liked a guy. I never thought it was an option for me. In case you haven't noticed, Ash, I'm kinda freaking out right now! And to top it all off, he's my best friend!"

"Woah. Calum?!"

"Yes, Calum! Who else?!" I groaned, running a hand through and pulling at my pink hair. "This is not good."

"Okay, dude, seriously, take a deep breath." He put his hands on my shoulders and raised his eyebrows a little. "It's cool. You like a guy, that happens to be Calum. It's alright. No matter what happens, Luke, we're all still your best friends. Maybe it's just a phase, or maybe you really are into guys, on top of girls. Maybe it's just guys. Who knows! All I know is that everything is gonna go the way it should, and in the end it'll all be okay."

I nodded, sighing before giving Ashton a huge hug. "Thank you, man. I owe you."

"No, you owe me nothing," he giggled, hugging me back.

"I just- He and Michael are official, and I didn't think it would hurt me, but it hurts so much."

"He'll come around in the end," Ashton insisted, rubbing up and down my back. "And if he doesn't, there's probably a good reason."

I sighed, nodding. I knew he was right, I just- My brain was a mess and I didn't know what to think. I just needed some time to myself, without Calum and Michael shoving their relationship down my throat. Or simply without Calum altogether. Maybe it is just a phase...